ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Children Raised by Grandparents Facing Health Insurance Crisishttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/01/children-raised-by-grandparents-facing-health-insurance-crisis/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/01/children-raised-by-grandparents-facing-health-insurance-crisis/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/01/children-raised-by-grandparents-facing-health-insurance-crisis/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Grandparents raising their grandchildren are facing a new challenge in obtaining child-only health insurance. Credit: Corbis

With the passage of last year's federal health care overhaul, many families breathed a sigh of relief because it meant their children could no longer be denied health coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Yet, however well-intentioned the pre-existing condition provision was, it has actually produced an unforeseen fatality: The child-only insurance policy.

Instead of extending additional coverage to all children under 19 who were deemed previously uninsurable, health insurance companies throughout the country are now refusing to cover children who are not covered by a family-member's policy, the Texas Tribune reports.

One of the groups being hit hard by the elimination of the child-only insurance policy are children who are being raised by their grandparents, when they're not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid and have no insurance from an employer or a family policy to give them coverage.

Both approaching 65 and the switchover to Medicare -- federally-funded health coverage for seniors -- Phillip and Diann Green, of Forney, Texas, face the staggering problem of finding health coverage for their 12-year-old granddaughter, Aria, whom they have been raising since she was 7 months old.

"Raising a child - finding her health insurance - it's certainly not something you expect at our age," Green tells the Tribune. "But everybody has come up with an excuse for not taking her."

The Greens never suspected that reaching the age of retirement would lead to problems finding health insurance for Aria, who is currently insured under Diann Green's policy from her employer, Walmart. But, ultimately, each of the health insurers operating in Texas turned them down because they no longer had child-only policies, the Tribune reports.

So, Aria is left with few choices, as the Greens' income level does not qualify her for the state-federal Children's Health Insurance Program; and, she is not eligible for a federal high-risk insurance pool because it requires a child to have a pre-existing condition -- which Aria does not -- and a formal denial from a private insurer. But insurers don't have to issue a denial when there is no plan offered.

At this point, Aria's only option for coverage when her grandmother retires is to move to the Cobra plan for her current policy from Wal-Mart, which costs $550 per month and will only cover her for 18 months.

While there is no way to calculate how many children are affected by the elimination of child-only health plans, the Tribune estimates that there are thousands in Texas alone.

Jared Wolfe, executive director of the Texas Association of Health Plans, tells the newspaper that the child-only plans aren't being pulled because insurance companies don't want to cover children, but because the pre-existing condition clause has created an "unworkable financial scenario" for insurance companies. Since the provision has been interpreted to mean insurance companies have to cover any child who applies, Wolfe says it effectively ensures only sick children will apply for coverage.

In some states, like Texas, lawmakers have turned to legislation to battle the insurance companies and to force insurers who cover individuals to extend coverage for children under 19. The Texas bill is similar to laws already passed in California, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Washington; yet it's doubtful that the bill will pass in Texas, where the Republican majority in the state Legislature believes that the child-only insurance market should "work itself out," the Tribune reports.

The Tribune reports that the Texas Department of Insurance is searching for ways to "entice" insurers into offering child-only coverage, while some insurers say they are looking for a compromise.

But none of this means anything for Aria right now.

"Everyone I talk to about this, their response is, 'What would you like for us to do about this?'" Phillip Green says. "I just want them to fix it."

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>grandparentsgrandparents raising grandchildrenhealth carehealth care reformhealth insuranceHoney BerkFri, 01 Apr 2011 18:45:00 ESTMom's Photo Captures Magical Moment Under the Rainbowhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/01/moms-photo-captures-magical-moment-under-the-rainbow/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/01/moms-photo-captures-magical-moment-under-the-rainbow/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/01/moms-photo-captures-magical-moment-under-the-rainbow/#commentsFiled under: ,

rainbow boy picture

Credit: Avena Singh, Solent News

We all have those moments with our kids that seem so perfect, you just want to stop the world.

But unless you've got a time machine stashed away in your basement, a great photo or video may be the best way to savor that delicious memory for years to come.

Which is just what Avena Singh, a 35-year-old amateur photographer from Oregon, attempted to do while exploring Shore Acres State Park with her 3-year-old son.

Singh, who lives close to the park, headed there in the hopes of getting some great photos after the local weather report predicted high waves. But little did she know the day would bring her the shot of a lifetime.

'I had noticed remnants of rainbows once in a while when the waves crashed and was trying to capture them with little success," Singh tells the Daily Mail. "A couple of photographer friends were with me and got my son, Rishabh, to pose as the waves hit."

But after her friends took their photos and turned away, Singh saw the rainbow arc right over Rishabh and started snapping away like crazy, hoping to catch a bit of it.

"The remnants of the wave just fell straight down, and the rainbow disappeared as quickly as it had come," Singh tells the newspaper. "My son stood perfectly still in complete awe of what he discovered, his very own rainbow."

And when Singh got home, she was, too, overtaken with awe.

"I was overjoyed when I uploaded the images to my computer and was able to see them in all their glory, it was something I could never replicate," she tells the Daily Mail. "It felt amazing. Having my son be right in the middle only made it more special. My children are everything in the world to me and had my son not been there it still would not have been as special."

You can bet we won't forget to bring the camera the next time we venture out with our kids.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>photographyphotosphotos of kidsstrange but trueHoney BerkFri, 01 Apr 2011 18:30:00 ESTArtificial Food Colorings Come Under Scrutiny by Federal Governmenthttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/food-coloring/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/food-coloring/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/food-coloring/#commentsFiled under: ,

food coloring

Credit: Getty Images

If your kids seem to bounce off the walls after their morning bowl of cereal, you may want to take a look at the side of the box and see if artificial food colorings are listed in the ingredients.

The subject of artificial food colorings has been a source of controversy in the U.S. since the 1970s, when pediatrician Benjamin Feingold first insisted there was a link between the colorings and behavioral or health problems, like hyperactivity, in children.

But after ruling years ago that the connection couldn't be proved, the Food and Drug Administration has now publicly convened a panel of experts to re-examine the evidence and advise if a change in policy is needed -- like the addition of warning labels on packaged foods that contain the ingredients, The New York Times reports.

This week's FDA hearing is seen as a victory for consumer advocacy groups, like the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which in 2008 asked the FDA to ban eight of the nine food colorings certified for use in the U.S. It also points to the fact that the mounting body of evidence about the colorings -- like a study published in The Lancet medical journal in 2007 -- has at least caught the agency's attention, the Times reports.

In their recent report on the issue, the FDA's scientists concluded that a "causal relationship between exposure to color additives and hyperactivity in children in the general population has not been established."

However, they did note that the condition of "certain susceptible children" with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be exacerbated by exposure to "a number of substances in food, including, but not limited to, synthetic color additives."

Renee Shutters, a mother of two from Jamestown, N.Y., tells the Times that two years ago her then 5-year-old son Trenton was having serious behavioral problems at school until she cut artificial food colorings out of his diet.

"I know for sure I found the root cause of this one because you can turn it on and off like a switch," Shutters tells the newspaper.

But not everyone is convinced.

Dr. Lawrence Diller, a behavioral pediatrician in Walnut Creek, Calif., tells the Times that there is very little, if any, proof that diet plays a significant role in most childhood behavioral disorders.

"These are urban legends that won't die," Diller says.

But the CPSI contends that even if the colorings only affect "susceptible children," there are many parents who don't know their kids are at risk -- and so the FDA should "remove those dangerous and unnecessary substances from the food supply."

Many of the artificial food colorings certified for use today were originally approved by the FDA in 1931, including Blue No. 1, Yellow No. 5 and Red No. 3. But, though these dyes were originally made from coal tar, these days they're made from petroleum products, the Times reports.

Over the years, there has been some movement on the part of the federal government to ensure the safety of the colorings, and some have been banned over the years; like Orange No. 1, which was found to be toxic in the 1950s, and Red. No. 2, which was thought to be carcinogenic and banned in 1976, reports the Times.

But the FDA suggests that issues surrounding artificial food colorings might be most similar to a peanut allergy, according to the newspaper. In which case, the FDA is covered, since the agency already requires manufacturers to list artificial colorings on food labels, as it does with peanuts.

Yet, the FDA is not asking the current panel of experts to consider banning artificial food colorings altogether, only to assess the credibility of the existing research and make policy recommendations. Ultimately, the panel will likely suggest that more research be conducted; however, since research on children is difficult to undertake, the newspaper notes that this recommendation will probably be ignored.

Artificial dyes can be found in many foods targeted to children, including Jell-O, Lucky Charms, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Cheetos snacks and Hostess Twinkies. The Times reports that some grocery stores, such as Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, will not sell foods made with artificial food colorings.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>adhdartificial food coloringfdafood and drug administrationfood coloringhyperactive childrenhyperactivityHoney BerkThu, 31 Mar 2011 18:00:00 ESTNCAA Basketball: 10-Year-Old Boy Correctly Picks Final 4http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/ncaa-basketball/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/ncaa-basketball/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/ncaa-basketball/#commentsFiled under:

If you've been following NCAA basketball, you probably know that this year's March Madness was particularly maddening, with a record-breaking number of top-seed upsets.

To put that in perspective, consider that out of the 5.9 million brackets that were filled out for the tournament at ESPN.com, only two actually picked all four of the Final Four teams, while only 1,093 picked three of the four teams.

Which is why 10-year-old Patrick Lindsey is being hailed as somewhat of a wunderkind this week. Patrick, a fourth grader from Camden Elementary School in Camden, Ga., has completely bested the pros by correctly picking the teams from University of Connecticut, University of Kentucky, Butler University and Virginia Commonwealth University in this year's Final Four, WIS-TV news in Columbia, S.C. reports.

Patrick's picks were an offshoot of an in-class project thought up by his teacher, Darlene Cantey, which combined basketball and poetry.

"We started March Madness poetry because March is poetry month," Cantey tells WIS. "I felt if we got basketball involved I would get more motivation in my students to do poetry, which ended up teaching me a lot about basketball as well."

The project was so well-received by the students that Cantey decided to expand the concept to teach other subjects, like geography. Students picked the teams they thought would win each week and then posted them in the classroom.

And even though some doubted the 10-year-old's picks, Patrick didn't waiver.

"Some people that watched (the teams) thought I was OK, but some people were like, 'Are you sure about that?' " he tells the news outlet.

"A lot of people in our neighborhood thought, 'Who is VCU? That team is definitely not going to win,' " one of Patrick's classmates tells WIS.

But VCU did win, as did all of Patrick's picks. In fact, he forecasted all of the big upsets, including Kentucky's win over Ohio State University.

"I felt excited," Patrick says, "because everybody said 'you're crazy' but I think the underdog wins a lot."

Patrick has picked UConn as the ultimate winner in this year's NCAA tournament.

"I was shocked," Patrick's classmate tells WIS. "I don't think anybody has gotten the Final Four correct except for him."

Well, him and at least two other people in the country.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>amazing kidsbasketballncaancaa basketballNCAA Final Fourncaa tournamentHoney BerkThu, 31 Mar 2011 17:00:00 ESTDeaths Linked to Crib Bumpers Not Always Investigatedhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/30/crib-bumpers/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/30/crib-bumpers/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/30/crib-bumpers/#commentsFiled under:

crib bumpers

Crib bumpers are being investigated as a cause of infant deaths. Credit: Getty Images

Although it's a little scary that recalls for infant and child products are so common these days, parents can at least take comfort in knowing government regulators are keeping an ever-watchful eye on our kids' safety.

Charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues warnings on hundreds of juvenile products alone each year.

Yet, although the agency has been instrumental in educating parents about sleep safety and mandating ever-stringent guidelines for juvenile products, the CPSC has failed to adequately investigate infant deaths involving crib bumpers, the Chicago Tribune reports.

One of the cases in question involves the 2006 death of 5-month-old Madison Morr, who suffocated after becoming trapped against the bumper pad in the corner of her crib. Although Madison's death certificate clearly lists the cause of death, CPSC regulators have never examined whether her death involved an unsafe product, according to the newspaper.

The Tribune has identified at least 17 other cases where the CPSC did not investigate a child's death when a filed report suggested crib bumpers had been involved. After inquiring into some of those cases, the newspaper discovered medical examiners and coroners actually noted that crib bumpers were involved in the deaths.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has previously warned parents about the dangers of crib bumpers, the CPSC had not backed up the AAP's position. And, now that the CPSC is finally looking at the issue of crib bumper safety, the Tribune reports the commission is conducting its inquiry without having investigated all the infant deaths involving the bumpers.

CPSC spokesperson Scott Wolfson tells the Tribune that the commission is looking to see if there is a scientific link between crib bumpers and infant suffocations, or if other factors -- such as blankets, pillows or medical issues -- were primarily responsible for the deaths.

This logic has proven worrisome to children's health and safety organizations who want to keep bumpers out of cribs.

"If the baby was found with the face smushed up against the bumper pad, then I don't understand the relevance of the pillow or the blanket," Rachel Moon, a pediatrician at Children's National Medical Center and researcher for the AAP, tells the Tribune.

Originally, crib bumpers were made to cover spaces between crib slats that were too far apart, but 1970s regulations mandated less space between slats, so babies couldn't get their heads caught. However, bumpers are still sold as part of crib bedding sets, the newspaper reports.

The Tribune cites a report issued three years ago by Washington University pediatrician Bradley Thach, which concluded that at least 27 infant deaths over two decades could be blamed on bumper pads.

Thach and other experts tell the Tribune they believe suffocations related to bumpers are under-reported because they may be blamed on sudden infant death syndrome if there isn't a thorough inquiry.

The lobbying trade group for the children's bedding industry maintains that crib bumpers are safe and is conducting its own study, the newspaper reports.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bumper padsconsumer product safety commissioncpsccrib bumpercrib safetycrib+bumper+padcrib+bumper+safetycribbumperpadcribbumpersafetycribsrecallsresearch+crib+bumpersresearchcribbumperssafe sleepsidsSudden Infant Death SyndromesuffocationHoney BerkWed, 30 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTFacebook Can Lead to Depression in Adolescents, Report Sayshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/facebook-depression/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/facebook-depression/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/facebook-depression/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Watch Video Related to This Article
facebook can cause depression in adolescents

Facebook depression is common among teens. Credit: Getty Images

Just when you think you've got the whole social media thing covered with your tween or teen, a new tech-related monster rears its ugly head.

As if sexting and cyberbullying weren't enough for parents to worry about, now "Facebook depression" joins the list of things to fret over.

This new phenomenon is identified as depression that kicks in after adolescents spend a lot of time on social media sites, leading to classic symptoms of depression, according to a new report on social media and children released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Viewing a constant stream on Facebook that includes happy, boasting status updates and photos of your peers having a great time can make kids feel worse about themselves, the Chicago Tribune reports.

"It can be more painful than sitting alone in a crowded school cafeteria or other real-life encounters that can make kids feel down, because Facebook provides a skewed view of what's really going on." Gwenn O'Keeffe, the report's co-author, tells the Tribune. "Online, there's no way to see facial expressions or read body language that provide context."

Kids who suffer from online depression are at risk for social isolation, just as with offline depression, and may turn to risky Internet sites and blogs for "help" -- which may encourage substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices or self-destructive or aggressive behaviors, the researchers say.

This phenomenon is of critical importance in light of the significant increase in the number of kids using social media sites over the last five years. In fact, the study says, social media use is now one of the most common activities of children and adolescents.

Recent statistics show that 22 percent of teenagers log on to their favorite social media site more than 10 times per day, and more than half of teens log on more than once a day, according to the report. In addition, 75 percent of teens now have cell phones, with 25 percent using them for social media, 54 percent for texting and 24 percent for instant messaging.

With this in mind, the researchers say a "large part of this generation's social and emotional development is occurring while on the Internet and on cell phones."

The reports notes that social media can benefit kids, saying it can "enhance communication, facilitate social interaction and help develop technical skills." Social media also can help adolescents identify volunteer opportunities, augment traditional classroom learning methods and even help shape their sense of identity.

"But because tweens and teens have a limited capacity for self-regulation and are susceptible to peer pressure, they are at some risk as they engage in and experiment with social media," the report states.

Tweens and teens can sometimes find themselves on sites and in situations that are not age-appropriate, the authors note, adding that unhealthy offline behaviors frequently find their way online now, with bullying, cliques and sexual experimentation cropping up online as cyberbullying, privacy issues and sexting.

Other problems that can often result from extensive social media use include Internet addiction and sleep deprivation, the researchers note.

"Some young people find the lure of social media difficult to resist, which can interfere with homework, sleep and physical activity," O'Keeffe says in a news release.

O'Keeffe says parents need to understand how their child is using social media so they can set appropriate limits.

And, although many parents are tech savvy and have a presence on many of the same social media sites as their children, some parents may still find it hard to relate to their kids online.

To help families find their way through the social media landscape, the AAP recommends parents do the following:
  • Talk to children and adolescents about their online use and the specific issues that today's online kids face, such as cyberbullying, sexting and difficulty managing their time.
  • Work on their own "participation gap" in their homes by becoming better educated about the many technologies their children are using.
  • Develop a family online-use plan, with an emphasis on citizenship and healthy behavior.
  • Supervise online activities via active participation and communication, not just via monitoring software.
Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!


Check out more from Advice Mama!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>adolescentsdepressionfacebookfacebook depressionfacebook+and+depressionfacebookanddepressionsocial mediasocial networkingteen depressionteenstweenstwitteryoutubeHoney BerkMon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTHippopota Photoshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/hippopota-photos/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/hippopota-photos/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/hippopota-photos/#commentsFiled under:

Hippopota photos

Turn your kid's beloved childhood friend into a keepsake to be cherished forever. Credit: Hippopota

As if propelled by some crazy hyper-time warp, kids seem to grow up in the blink of an eye. And, before you know it, cherished playthings and objects of their childhood lose meaning and are too quickly relegated to a box in the attic.

But now, there's a way to preserve the sentiments attached to beloved childhood objects long after your kids have discarded them. Hippopota will take your kid's favorite stuffed animal, blankie, toy -- even baby shoes -- and photograph it in its studio.

Each object is shot against a white backdrop, gives it an incredible life-like appearance. The photograph is then blown up to whatever size you'd like and can be gallery-mounted on Plexiglass or you may purchase just the photograph and frame it to your preference.

Just imagine how much your kid will love it when he's all grown up and has little ones of his own.

Available at Hippopota for $500 to $2,000 depending on size.


Check out our International Toy Fair coverage!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>heirloomkeepsakephotophotographsphotosshoppingHoney BerkMon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTNew Car Seat Policy Keeps Kids in Booster Seats Much Longerhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/new-car-seat-policy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/new-car-seat-policy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/new-car-seat-policy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



If you think it's time to graduate your child out of her car or booster seat, you may want to take a look at a new policy released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) which significantly modifies the last guidelines, issued in 2002.

These guidelines are markedly different from the previous policy, which had infants and toddlers riding in rear-facing car seats only until the age of 12 months or 20 pounds at minimum. With this in mind, parents often turned the seat to face the front of the car around the child's first birthday.

"Parents often look forward to transitioning from one stage to the next, but these transitions should generally be delayed until they're necessary, when the child fully outgrows the limits for his or her current stage," Dr. Dennis Durbin, author of the policy statement and technical report, says in a news release.

Durbin says a rear-facing child safety seat better supports the neck, head and spine of infants and toddlers in the event of a crash, as it distributes the force of the collision throughout the entire body.

In support of this idea, the release cites a 2007 study from the journal Injury Prevention with found that children younger than 2 years old are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a car crash if they are rear-facing.

"The 'age 2' recommendation is not a deadline, but rather a guideline to help parents decide when to make the transition," Durbin says in the release. "Smaller children will benefit from remaining rear-facing longer, while other children may reach the maximum height or weight before 2 years of age."

For larger children, Durbin says a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, while a belt-positioning booster seat affords greater protection than just a car seat belt alone, until the seat belt properly fits the child.

With regard to fit, the shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the chest, and not near the neck or face. The lap belt should fit low and snug on the hips and upper thighs, not across the belly, according to the guidelines.

The AAP recommendations also note that children should ride in the rear of the vehicle until they are 13 years old.

The AAP's air travel guidelines call for children younger than 2 to ride in an age- and size-appropriate restraint, even though the Federal Aviation Administration allows infants up to 2 to ride in an adult's lap on an airplane.

"Children should ride properly restrained on every trip in every type of transportation, on the road or in the air," Durbin says.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>aapamerican academy of pediatricsAmericanAcademyOfPediatricsbooster seatsbooster+seatboosterseatBoosterSeatscar accidentcar safetycar seatcar seat safetycar seatsCarAccidentCarSafetyCarSeatCarSeatsCarSeatSafetynew+car+seat+guidelinesnew+car+seat+recommendationsnew+car+seatsnewcarseatguidelinesnewcarseatrecommendationsnewcarseatssafetyHoney BerkMon, 21 Mar 2011 00:01:00 ESTSoothe Baby on a Clothes Dryer? Bad Idea, Hospital Sayshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/17/soothing-baby-clothes-dryer/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/17/soothing-baby-clothes-dryer/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/17/soothing-baby-clothes-dryer/#commentsFiled under: ,

soothe baby picture

Soothe your baby, but not with a clothes dryer. Credit: Getty Images

Fed up with driving your baby around for hours every night until he falls asleep? Quebec-based home furnishings chain Brault and Martineau has a much better suggestion.

In a tongue in cheek ad created for Canadian TV and radio, the company suggests its clothes dryers are perfect for soothing little ones, with calming vibrations that can lull baby to sleep, the Globe and Mail reports.

"In the TV ad, you see Mum fold clothes, Dad is holding a crying baby," Lisa Dutton, a media spokesperson for Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre, tells the newspaper. "He places the baby on a white machine that is jiggling. The baby stops crying. The camera cuts to a picture of a washer and dryer with the ad pitch. The implication is that the machine is so quiet and smooth it will calm a cranky child."

In the radio ad, Dutton adds, the voice over says the dryer includes a "baby cycle."

But, we all know placing baby on a dryer -- even when strapped into a car seat -- is dangerous, right?

Apparently not.

Alarmed that desperate, sleep-deprived parents might start propping their babies on the nearest dryer, a number of concerned citizens promptly called the Montreal Children's Hospital to alert officials about the ad.

And, so, the hospital issued a news release to alert the public about the potential hazard, the newspaper reports.

"This is actually a very dangerous practice; falls in the house are a leading cause of childhood injuries," Debbie Friedman, the hospital's director of trauma services, says in the release. "Children should never be placed on dryers because they can easily tumble off and suffer severe injuries."

In response, the repentant folks at Brault & Martineau pulled the ad off the air.

So what to do if your child is colicky and won't sleep? Two words: vacuum cleaner.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>clothesclothes dryerClothesDryercrying babyCryingBabysoothesoothingsoothing babySoothingBabyHoney BerkThu, 17 Mar 2011 15:30:00 ESTVaccine Exemptions for Religious Reasons May Face Stricter Guidelines in N.J.http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/vaccine-religious-exemption/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/vaccine-religious-exemption/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/vaccine-religious-exemption/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Watch A Related Video to This Article
vaccine religious exemption

New Jersey laws may be getting stricter with regard to religious exemption from required vaccines. Credit: Getty

With the autism-vaccine connection disproved last year, you would think fewer parents would be objecting to having their children vaccinated.

Yet, the resurgence of serious, preventable illnesses -- including whooping cough and meningitis -- is testament to the fact that even greater numbers are seeking exemption from vaccines for their children.

But parents who seek an exemption from vaccinations for their children based upon religious reasons would have to comply with stricter guidelines under a new bill that passed the New Jersey state Senate March 15, NJ.com reports.

The bill, approved by a vote of 6 to 1, would require parents to attest that vaccination requirements conflict with the student's "bona fide" religious practices or principles.

"By adding the words 'bona fide,' we certainly would be suggesting that you should not use the religious exemption just as an excuse,' " the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, tells NJ.com. "The overall aim of this bill is to get children immunized."

Like many states, New Jersey has seen a significant increase in the number of parents requesting religious exemption for their children. In fact, the numbers have more than doubled -- with 3,865 recorded during the 2010-11 school year, up from 1,644 in 2005-06, the news outlet reports.

In 2007, the New Jersey immunization rate for children dropped to 62 percent from 76 percent. This was the year New Jersey became the first state to mandate the flu vaccine for children ages 6 months to 59 months who attended preschool or day care, NJ.com reports.

In addition to influenza, New Jersey requires school children to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, varicella (chicken pox), haemophilus influenzae B (HiB), hepatitis B, pneumonia and meningitis -- all serious illnesses that could be life-threatening.

Fran Gallagher, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells NJ.com many doctors report that parents claim religious exemption from vaccines, but then are selective about which ones their children don't receive.

"I think it has been abused to the point where it puts the public at risk," Gallagher tells the site.

Critics of the new bill claim it is unconstitutional because the government cannot legally rule on whether or not a person's beliefs are legitimate. They also are concerned the phrase "bona fide" would only cover those who belong to an organized, established religion, the news outlet reports.

"When you say 'bona fide,' it draws to mind that someone could challenge what is bona fide, what is not bona fide. And that is unconstitutional," New Jersey Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk tells NJ.com.

Vandervalk sponsored a bill, which was blocked in the state Senate last week, that would have allowed parents to exempt their children from vaccinations based simply on conscientious objection.

Weinberg says the New Jersey policy on religious exemptions would not change if the bill passes; it would simply require parents to demonstrate that their religious convictions are sincere, the news outlet reports.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>meningitisnew jerseyNewJerseyvaccinationvaccinationsvaccinevaccine religious exemptionvaccineswhooping coughWhoopingCoughHoney BerkWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:30:00 ESTSeedling Fashion Designer Kithttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/seedling-fashion-designer-kit/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/seedling-fashion-designer-kit/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/seedling-fashion-designer-kit/#commentsFiled under: ,

fashion designer kit

Seedling toys plants the idea of imaginative play in a kid's head. Credit: Half Pint Citizens

If you've got an aspiring Diane von Furstenberg or Isaac Mizrahi on your hands, the Fashion Designer Kit from Seedling may be just the thing to bring out your little fashionista's creative flair.

This beautifully-packaged kit from the New Zealand toymaker allows kids to design, sketch and make one-of-a-kind fashions to fit the included wooden mannequin. It comes with 10 different fabrics, patterns, a sketch book, colored pencils, scissors, assorted ribbons, sewing needles and thread. Instructions and fashion design tips also are included.

We think couture-minded tweens will swoon over this mini-designer's dream kit.

Available at Half Pint Citizens for $48.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>arts and craftsArtsAndCraftsdesignerfashionfashion designfashion designerfashion designer kitFashionDesignFashionDesignerFashionDesignerKitgifts for kidsGiftsForKidsshoppingHoney BerkWed, 16 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTTeen Sex Ed Taught Mostly by Schools, Families, Study Showshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/15/teen-sex-ed/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/15/teen-sex-ed/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/15/teen-sex-ed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

teens sex ed

Girls are more likely than boys to be exposed to information about hormonal birth control. Source: Getty

Ask most parents, and they'll agree it's crucial kids receive accurate, trusted information about sexual issues.

But while you might assume teens are getting their sex ed from "Jersey Shore" reruns or naughty online sites, schools and family are the most common and trusted sources when it comes to contraceptive and sexual health information.

According to a study published this week in the Journal of Adolescent Research, a majority of teens will have sex by age 18, putting them at risk for unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Previous research reveals the main sources of sexual health information to be school, friends and parents -- with media, romantic partners, health care providers, siblings and the Internet also playing a role. But previous studies only paint a partial picture, the researchers say.

The results of this study were based on interviews conducted in 2008 with 58 high school juniors and seniors recruited from three racially and ethnically diverse public high schools of different sizes -- one in Indiana and two in New York City -- each of which had a very different approach to sex education.

Overall, most of the teens interviewed said they had been exposed to information about contraception at school, from family members and from friends -- which is consistent with previous studies. Strikingly, less than one-third of teens said they had received some type of contraceptive information from a doctor, according to the findings.

Nearly all of the students exposed to a comprehensive sex education program said they received information about contraception at school. Meanwhile, at the schools with less extensive sex education, teens recalled much more superficial information.

Many students said they were dissatisfied with the information they received at school.

"I think that they should really cover things like birth control because they don't really say a lot about that," a 17-year-old girl from Indiana (who was a virgin) told the researchers. "They say use a condom, pretty much. And I think they should use more talk about birth control; say what kind of options are available and what are the side effects and risks to the person taking them."

Most of the teens said they trust the information they receive at school because teachers have fact-based knowledge or expertise about sexual health and are responsible for educating teens.

Only a few students said they had not received any information at school about condoms, birth control or safe sex.

Most teens said they received contraceptive information from family members, but there were gender differences. Girls were more likely to receive information about hormonal methods, while boys most commonly received superficial information about condoms in what the authors refer to as "safe sex sound bites."

"Well, um, my dad told me one time to be careful, and my mom basically said the same thing in a different way. So they basically know, but, just only be careful, basically," a 19-year-old boy from a New York school (who was sexually experienced) told the researchers.

Most teens had discussed contraception with their friends, and said contraception is promoted and encouraged among friends. Many boys said their friends advocated using condoms or used condoms themselves. However, the teens said they were skeptical of at least some of the sexual health information they got from friends.

Asian girls were more likely than girls of any other race or ethnicity to say they had not received any contraceptive information from family members; they were also less likely to discuss sexual issues with their friends.

The researchers also found:

  • Slightly more than one-third had talked with a boyfriend or girlfriend about contraception.
  • More than one-third said they were exposed to contraceptive messages in television and movies, but most commonly as part of a storyline and not as a source of new information.
  • Books and magazines were seen as sources of factual information about contraceptive information; girls reported this more often, citing magazines like CosmoGirl and Seventeen.
  • Only slightly more than one-third said they had been exposed to contraceptive information on the Internet, and they were more likely to distrust than trust the information found online.
Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>birth controlBirthControlcondomscontraceptionresearchsexsex edsex educationSex education and kidssex+education+in+public+schoolssex+teenSexEdSexEducationSexEducationAndKidssexeducationinpublicschoolssexteenstudyteen sex edteen+sexteensteensexTeenSexEdHoney BerkTue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 ESTParents Say Student's Peanut Allergy Hazardous to Their Kidshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/11/peanut-allergies/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/11/peanut-allergies/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/11/peanut-allergies/#commentsFiled under:

Watch A Video Related to This Article
peanut allergy

They may look innocuous, but these peanuts could be life-threatening for someone with a severe allergy. Credit: Getty

If your child suffers from a peanut allergy, you know just how diligent you need to be to make sure they stay safe.

But, in an interesting twist, a group of parents from a Volusia County, Fla. elementary school are now claiming that one first-grade girl's peanut allergy actually poses a hazard to their own children's health, reports WFTV News.

As a result, a group of parents organized a demonstration outside the school on Thursday, protesting because their children have had to miss out on holiday parties at school, because they're not allowed to bring peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and because they're required to wash-up at various times during the day.

Per federal regulations, school districts are required to ensure all students wash and rinse their hands three times a day for about 10 minutes, WFTV reports. Parents claim this process interferes with their children's education -- because it's 30 minutes per day they're not in class learning.

"I'm perfectly fine with no peanuts in class," parent Carrie Starkey tells WFTV news. "But I have a problem with hand washing and rinsing of the mouth to take away from my child's education."

David Bailey is the father of the little girl who sparked the protest, and he tells WFTV that he kept the child home Thursday.

Even though there are other students at the school who are allergic to peanuts, Bailey's daughter has a more severe allergy -- and Bailey feels they're singling his daughter out.

"They are against her," Bailey says. "This is all against her."

Officials tell WFTV that all parents were notified of the dangers of peanut allergy and the school-district hand-washing policy, though many parents claim they were not.

Bailey explains that his daughter can't come in contact with peanuts, and she can't ingest them or she'll die. However, the news outlet reports that medical experts say this is a remote possibility.

"Children with severe peanut allergies have very minor risk for reactions," Dr. Matthew Seibel tells WFTV.

The protesting parents say they resorted to demonstrating at the school because school officials had no answers for them.

"We're all for protecting that little girl, but have to protect our own kids," Rhonda Ivey tells WFTV.

County officials are now having the school cleaned and are sending in peanut-sniffing dogs to check for peanut particle, WFTV reports.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>allergieshealthParentsOfStudentsAtAFloridaSchoolProtestItsPeanut-allergyPoliciepeanut allergyPeanutAllergyschoolHoney BerkFri, 11 Mar 2011 17:30:00 ESTTeen Drinking at Home: Helpful or Harmful?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/08/teen-drinking-at-home/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/08/teen-drinking-at-home/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/08/teen-drinking-at-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Teen drinking at home with parents

Parents have mixed feelings about serving alcohol to teens at home. Credit: Getty

At some point, most parents will confront the issue of underage drinking with their teen -- whether it's in middle school, high school or college -- and will have to take a stand on drinking, both in and outside of the home.

Some parents allow their teens to have an occasional glass of wine or a beer at home, believing kids who drink in moderation at home will be less likely to binge drink at a club or party, where they'll be much more at risk, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Other parents, however, believe underage drinking is dangerous and illegal no matter where or how it occurs, the newspaper adds, and say it sends an irresponsible message to teens that could pave the way for alcohol abuse later on.

But, in reality, many parents do supply their teens with alcohol -- at least some of the time.

According to a report released last month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nearly 6 percent of 12- to 14-year-olds (about 700,000 middle school kids) have had an alcoholic drink in the past month, the Journal reports. Nearly 45 percent of those obtained the alcohol free at home, including 16 percent who got it from a parent or guardian. However, the survey doesn't detail how much alcohol was involved or under what circumstances, the newspaper adds.


"This report isn't designed to say, 'Bad parents!' It's designed to say, 'Here's an issue you should pay attention to,' " Peter Delany, director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, tells the Journal. "When kids under age 15 start drinking and drinking heavily, they are about six times more likely to end up with alcohol problems."

But Stanton Peele, a psychologist and author of books on addiction, tells the Journal he's not convinced any type of drinking before the age of 15 sets kids up for the risk of alcohol problems later on.

"There's a giant difference between a kid who gets totally wasted on some purloined booze in the woods with his friends, and someone who has wine at dinner with their parents or as part of a religious ceremony," Peele tells the newspaper.

According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 86 percent of American youths have used alcohol by the time they turn 21, and 50 percent are binge drinking, downing five or more drinks in a sitting for men and four or more for women.

Although 21 is the legal drinking age in the United States, 31 states allow parents, guardians or spouses to give alcohol to minors, with seven of those states allowing it in a private residence, the Journal reports. Thirty states allow minors to drink for religious reasons.

And though there hasn't been a lot of research on the role of parents in underage drinking, findings from the United States and Europe are mixed with regard to predicting binge drinking or problems with alcohol later in life, according to the newspaper.

But U.S. government agencies and quite a few alcohol-awareness organizations contend that no amount of underage drinking should be allowed, the Journal says. They say teens who drink are at a higher risk for being involved in motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides and accidents of all kinds, as well as unplanned sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Studies also suggest alcohol can do long-term damage to brains that are still developing in teens and even young adults in their early 20s, the Journal reports.

Conflicting information and differing cultural norms leave many parents wondering how to handle the subject of alcohol with their children. Delany tells the newspaper he's been very clear about the dangers of alcohol and drugs with his own son, and suggests parents discuss upcoming situations with their teens.

"You can say, 'There may be a lot of people drinking. Have you thought about how you're going to handle that?' Then really listen to their answers," he says.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>alcoholalcoholismdrinkingteen drinkingteen+drinking+statisticsTeenDrinkingteendrinkingstatisticsunderage+drinking+in+the+newsunderagedrinkinginthenewsHoney BerkTue, 08 Mar 2011 14:45:00 ESTInnobaby Stack N Sealhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/08/innobaby-stack-n-seal/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/08/innobaby-stack-n-seal/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/08/innobaby-stack-n-seal/#commentsFiled under: ,

innobaby stack n seal

Keep your snacks under cover, where they belong. Credit: Innobaby


If you're tired of fishing for loose Goldfish crackers in the bottom of your bag, Innobaby's Stack N Seal can help you reign in those unruly snacks.

A smart food storage option for mobile moms, the Stack N Seal can store dry snacks and even liquids. And not only do the interlocking, stacking containers help contain the mess; they also put a quick end to that frantic search for something yummy to appease your little one when you're out and about.

Containers come in a range of designs, colors and sets and they are dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe. Also contain no BPA, phthalates, PVC or lead.

Available at Amazon for $17.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>food networkfood storageFoodNetworkFoodStorageinnobaby stack n sealInnobabyStackNSealpreschoolersshoppingsnacking at nightSnackingAtNightSnackStrongToddlersAndTvHoney BerkTue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTSpokescharacters Make Kids' Cereal Taste Better, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/spokescharacters-kids-cereal-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/spokescharacters-kids-cereal-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/spokescharacters-kids-cereal-study/#commentsFiled under: ,

Watch Videos Related to This Article
spokescharacters kids cereal

Characters don't seem to affect the taste of healthy-sounding cereal, but they make sugary cereal taste better. Credit: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Sure, you know companies use characters such as Ronald McDonald, SpongeBob SquarePants and Shrek on packaging to convince children to buy their products. But these characters may appeal to more than just your child's mind.

Having popular media characters on a cereal box may actually influence children's opinions about the taste of the cereal, according to a study published today in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Companies commonly use spokescharacters to market to children because it helps them identify and remember the product -- especially with younger children who are not yet capable or consistent readers, the researchers say.

But beyond examining how characters help when it comes to marketing, the study evaluated 80 children between the ages of 4 and 6 to see how licensed characters on food packaging affect a child's assessment of the way food tastes. And, in light of the increase in childhood obesity, they also looked to see if taste preference is affected by packaging cues about the cereal's nutritional value.

After just a brief exposure to a new cereal, children rated the cereal significantly higher when the box featured popular characters. Simply adding spokescharacters to the cereal box made the children enjoy the cereal more, the study shows.

The name of the cereal also contributed to a child's opinion, however, not in the way the researchers predicted. Without a character on the box, children liked a cereal named Healthy Bits more than those who tried the same cereal, but under the name Sugar Bits, according to the findings.

When a spokescharacter for a kids' cereal was added to the box, there was no significant difference in how much the children enjoyed Healthy Bits, but the Sugar Bits group said they now liked their cereal as much the Healthy Bits group, the researchers report.

This means children enjoyed the cereal more with just the simple addition of popular media characters to the cereal box.

The researchers offer two possible explanations for these findings: First, children are commonly told sugary foods are bad from a young age, so they may have been avoiding Sugar Bits because of the negative association.

Or, since the cereal used had only a moderately sweet taste, the authors suggest the children may have been disappointed by the lack of sugary flavor in a cereal named Sugar Bits, but pleasantly surprised by the sugary flavor of a cereal named Healthy Bits.

Either way, the researchers say the results demonstrate the power of licensed characters to affect young children's assessments of food products and represent an important step in understanding how marketing practices affect young children.

"With increased information regarding the nature of the influence of marketing techniques, policymakers can encourage more appropriate means of child-directed food marketing so that parents or guardians and pediatricians can determine how best to teach children media literacy skills and healthy eating behaviors," they conclude.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent MedicineArchivesOfPediatricAndAdolescentMedicinecharactersfood packagingFoodPackagingJournal of the American Medical AssociationJournalOfTheAmericanMedicalAssociationkids cerealKidsCerealmarketingmarketing to kidsMarketingToKidsresearchspokescharactersspokescharacters kids cerealSpokescharactersKidsCerealstudyHoney BerkMon, 07 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESTAdult Adoptees Legislation Would Give Access to Original Birth Recordshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/adult-adoptees-legislation-birth-r/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/adult-adoptees-legislation-birth-r/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/adult-adoptees-legislation-birth-r/#commentsFiled under: ,

adoptees original birth certificate request

Proposed legislation in New Jersey could give adult adoptees direct access to their original birth certificates. Credit: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

If you're an adoptive parent, you probably grapple with questions of when, how and what to tell your child about his or her birth parents. And, if you're an adult adoptee in search of your biological parents, you may have difficulty finding them.

In New Jersey, two competing bills are pending in the state legislature that would give adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates and family medical information, removing a major impediment for those who wish to explore their birth families, the Asbury Park Press reports.

Currently, when a child is adopted in New Jersey, the original birth certificate is modified to contain only the adoptive parents' information, the newspaper reports. The state files away the original birth certificate -- which contains birth parents' names, ages, ethnicity and other identifying information.

However, if New Jersey resident Carol Barbieri gets her way, adult adoptees may soon be able to access their original birth certificates for the first time since about the 1940s, according to the Press.

Barbieri, of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., has been fighting for adoptee rights for about 20 years, since she began a quest to locate her own birth family, seeking critical medical information to help doctors treat her son, who had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, an electrical imbalance in the heart, the newspaper reports.

When the cardiologist asked Barbieri if the condition ran in the family, it was all the motivation she needed to find out all she could about her biological family -- turning into a decades-long fight to get a state law passed to allow adult adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates.

However, though passage of bill A-1406 is close, another roadblock recently popped up, in the form of competing bill A-3672, introduced in January, the Press reports.

The original bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, provides adoptees with direct access to their original long-form birth certificate, with the option of having an intermediary go-between them and their biological parents, the newspaper reports. The new bill requires an intermediary and gives biological parents the right to deny their access to the original birth certificate.

Those who favor the new bill say it's the only fair way to protect both the rights of adoptees and birth parents who may not wish to reveal their identities. However, proponents of the original bill, A-1406, say their bill already accomplishes those objectives and, at this point, is much closer to actually being passed into law, the Press reports.

"It's taken us 30 years to get the bill to where it is now," Barbieri tells the Press. "It's a fair bill."

If the original bill passes, birth parents would have one year from the date of passage to notify the state in writing that they want their identifying information removed from the original birth certificate. They will also be able to choose whether they prefer direct contact or contact through an intermediary.

In addition, the law would require birth families to update their health information with the state every 10 years.

Under the new bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, if the birth parents deny the adoptee's request for their original birth certificate, they would be asked to provide family medical information, which would then be given to the adoptee, the Press reports.

Quigley says the original bill will provide adoptees only with the names of their alleged parents and addresses that are 20 or 30 years old, and therefore no actual useful information for tracking down birth parents at the time of the request, according to the newspaper.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>adoptionadoption legislationAdoptionLegislationadult adopteesAdultAdopteesbirth certificateBirthCertificatelegislationnew jerseyNewJerseyparentsHoney BerkMon, 07 Mar 2011 15:15:00 ESTPoofin Star and Charmshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/04/poofin-star-and-charms/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/04/poofin-star-and-charms/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/04/poofin-star-and-charms/#commentsFiled under:

poofin star and charms

Poofins may just be the next big collectible craze. Credit: Poofin



What do you get when you cross a charm bracelet, a beloved plush toy and pogs? A cool, customizable collection of childhood memories called Poofin, which made a big splash at last month's Toy Fair.

To start, kids collect soft Poofin Charms with pictures on them of their very favorite things -- like butterflies, ice cream, soccer balls and puppies. Then all these charms get stuffed into a hole in the Poofin Star, an oh-so-soft star-shaped pillow that happily stores all their dreams. And when they want to take them out and share with friends, the Poofin Star zips open for easy access.

There are a bunch of ready-made charms available now and lots more on the way. Kids can also vote for the designs they want to see in the next batch of charms via the Poofin website. And coming soon: the Poofin Factory, where you'll be able to customize your own Create-A-Charms.

Available at Poofin: $4.95 for Charms, $29.95 for Stars

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>collectiblesgifts for kidsGiftsForKidsplushpogsshoppingtoy fairToyFairHoney BerkFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTTeens Lie, Like, a Lot, Survey Revealshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/02/most-teens-lie-survey-reveals/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/02/most-teens-lie-survey-reveals/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/02/most-teens-lie-survey-reveals/#commentsFiled under: ,

Toy Pinocchio puppets lying teenagers

Is Pinocchio your teen's role model? Credit: Corbis

Teens lie. It's not such a shocking revelation. But you may be surprised to learn just how pervasive dishonesty is amongst teens.

Eight out of 10 high school students admit they've lied to a parent about something significant, even though 92 percent of them believe their parents want them to do the right thing, according to a recent survey of 40,000 high school students nationwide, conducted by the Josephson Institute of Ethics.

Yet, as upsetting as it may be to think your teen is lying to you, experts say it's important to distinguish between little white lies and major deceptions.

"Kids don't tell their parents everything, and I certainly remember lying to my parents once or twice," Michael Josephson, president of the Josephson Institute, tells USA Today. "The real question is whether kids know the line between 'I did my homework,' or 'I cleaned my room,' and a more serious situation."

The truth is that your kids are more likely to lie to you when they feel they're not meeting your expectations -- whether they be about bad grades, drinking or dangerous driving, says Jennifer Powell-Lunder, co-author of "Teenage as a Second Language."

"The biggest reason teens lie is that they don't want to disappoint their parents. They really care what you think," Powell-Lunder tells USA Today.

But the lying may just be the tip of the iceberg. The survey also found nearly one in three boys and one in four girls stole something from a store within the past year; while 21 percent admitted they stole from a parent or other relative and 18 percent copped to stealing something from a friend.

And all this dishonesty doesn't just end there for teens; it follows them into their academic lives, with 59 percent of students admitting they cheated on a test during the last year and 34 percent saying they've done it more than twice.

If you're wondering how instant access to scores of written work online is affecting kids' ability to think for themselves, one in three students surveyed said they used the Internet to plagiarize a homework assignment.

Powell-Lunder tells the USA Today kids may be less likely to lie when parents let them know what the consequences of their actions will be -- such as having the keys to the car taken away if they get a speeding ticket.

She also suggests some steps parents can take to help keep teenage lying in check:

o. Model honesty. Don't lie in front of them, to them or on their behalf. So, no lying about his age so you can buy a cheaper ticket for the movies.
o. Don't let them lie to others, even if it means they have to wait until they're actually 13 to get a Facebook account.
o. Keep their confidences. Don't share her secrets with your friends or post her private moments on your Facebook page.
o. Keep your cool. When your teen inevitably does something that upsets you, listen and discuss it calmly with her.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cheatinglyingstealingsurveyteenagersteensteens lieTeensLieHoney BerkWed, 02 Mar 2011 13:45:00 ESTLimit Sun Exposure in Children, Keep Teens Out of Tanning Booths, Report Adviseshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/28/limit-sun-exposure-in-children-keep-teens-out-of-tanning-booths/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/28/limit-sun-exposure-in-children-keep-teens-out-of-tanning-booths/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/28/limit-sun-exposure-in-children-keep-teens-out-of-tanning-booths/#commentsFiled under:

sun protection for children

Lifelong sun protection should begin at an early age. Credit: Getty

Yes, you're always sure everyone in the family is slathered in sunscreen when you go to the beach or the pool, but sorry, Mom. That may not be enough to protect your kids from the hazards of overexposure to the sun.

A policy statement released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers guidance to parents and pediatricians on skin cancer prevention and safe sun exposure practices, recommending that lifelong sun protection begin at an early age.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes the three major forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma. But even though public health campaigns work to educate the public about the risk of developing skin cancer, many people continue to subject themselves to harmful UVR.

And many teens and young adults continue to increase their exposure to UVR by going to tanning salons, according to the statement.

As a result, rates of skin cancer -- including melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer -- continue to rise, even in younger people, the statement says.

The AAP recommends pediatricians advise parents about UVR exposure during check-ups and other health care visits. The statement says advice about UVR exposure is important for all children -- especially those at high risk of developing skin cancer, such as children with light skin, freckles and a family history of melanoma.

Specific recommendations include:

  • Avoid sunburning and suntanning.
  • Wear clothing and hats with brims.
  • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher whenever a child or adolescent might sunburn.
  • Sunscreen should be applied every two hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel.
  • Encourage outdoor activity, but limit exposure during midday, when the sun is at its peak (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
  • Be especially cautious around sand, snow and water.
  • Wear sunglasses when playing sports, walking, driving or doing anything in the sun.
  • Keep infants younger than 6 months of age out of direct sunlight and cover them with appropriate protective clothing and hats.
  • Include children in the sun protection discussion beginning at 9 or 10 years of age, to encourage children to take responsibility for limiting exposure and develop lifelong safe habits.
  • Discourage teenagers from visiting tanning salons.
For more information, view the AAP's sun safety tips.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>aapaap+children+tanningaapchildrentanningamerican academy of pediatricsAmericanAcademyOfPediatricsreportskin cancerSkinCancerstudysun exposureSunExposuresunscreensuntanningtanningtanning bedsTanningBedsUvRaysHoney BerkMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:45:00 EST