Obesity Rates Leveling
On the subject of obesity and young people, there is both good news and bad news. The bad: a third of our kids are overweight. The good: that number hasn't changed over the past five years. The Centers for Disease Control says kids aren't getting any slimmer, but they aren't getting heavier either. More…
Teacher Recommendations
Across the country, high school seniors are in the midst of applying to college. One important factor is a recommendation from a teacher – a task that is not always without risk. More…
It Takes a Village
Is it appropriate to discipline someone else's children who are behaving badly? Some people today say no, that's a job reserved for the child's parent. But, there can be problems when parents are the only ones insisting on good behavior. More…
The Down Side of Screen Time
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends two hours of screen time a day, max, for children. But according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey, the average American teen consumes over 10 hours of screen time a day, and that's not without consequence. More…
Generation "Me"
A new study from San Diego State University finds that five times more teens suffer from depression and anxiety than teens who grew up during the Great Depression. Experts say the reasons are many, including school stress, intense competition, instability at home and the need for more. More…
Gossip is Good
The Tiger Woods scandal sparked discussions about personal image and adultery on news stations and at dinner tables across the country. But are these discussions useful or just gossip? Some experts say they can be both. More…
Winning the War of Wills
'If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times'...it's a mantra heard in households across the country. But how many times do parents have to repeat themselves? And what methods of discipline actually work? More…
Mental Health Stigma
According to a new survey from the National Institute on Mental Health, only about half of kids who suffer from mental health disorders are receiving treatment. One reason, experts say, is that too many of those kids and their families are embarrassed or ashamed. More…
Fewer Kids Smoking
A new government survey finds that more kids are smoking marijuana, abusing prescription drugs and using smokeless tobacco than a decade ago. But there is one area of abuse that is going down dramatically- cigarettes. More…
Reading Comprehension
If your child has trouble reading, this finding is remarkable: researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that when kids with delayed reading skills or learning disabilities were put through a comprehensive remediation program, their brains physically "rewired" themselves, increasing reading comprehension and language skills. More…
