Jul 21, 2017
The Bangor Daily News – Shannon Brescher Shea
“The natural stimulation of being outside seems to replenish exhausted minds by practicing self-discipline, re-energizing the part of the brain that controls concentration, checks urges and delays gratification. A study of 169 girls and boys in a public housing development in Chicago found that girls who had greener views from their apartments did better on tests that measured self-discipline. Of the range in test scores, one-fifth of the variation could be explained by the differences in the “greenness” of the kids’ surroundings.” (more)
Jul 21, 2017
NPR – Lulu Garcia-Navarro
“As a new parent, Jack Gilbert got a lot of different advice on how to properly look after his child: when to give him antibiotics or how often he should sterilize his pacifier, for example. After the birth of his second child, Gilbert, a scientist who studies microbial ecosystems at the University of Chicago, decided to find out what’s actually known about the risks involved when modern-day children come in contact with germs.” (more)
Jul 20, 2017
The Health Site – Tania Tarafdar
“Swimming is, hands down, the best physical activity your kid can participate in. He will not only enjoy splashing water and learn different styles of swimming, but he can eventually become a competitive swimmer by perfecting his timing. Experts say that children can begin aquatic readiness lessons or water acclimation and pre-swimming techniques, as early as 15 to 18 months, followed by learning technique and strokes development at the age of four.” (more)
Jul 20, 2017
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
“Nutrition advice aimed at children also improves parents’ diets, according to research published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. “Diets high in unsaturated fat and low in saturated fat have been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events and death in adults,” said lead author Dr Johanna Jaakkola, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Turku, Finland. “Very little is known about the long-term effects of nutrition advice for children on the diets and health of parents.” The longitudinal randomised Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) decreased the saturated fat intake and improved the cardiovascular health of children by recommending foods rich in unsaturated, instead of saturated, fat.” (more)
Jul 19, 2017
The Huffington Post – Paul Ewart
“Good nutrition isn’t entirely down to what you do at home — it would be fair to argue it actually starts at the supermarket. Smart shopping is the foundation for healthy meals, after all. If you don’t have the right ingredients in your kitchen then you can’t create nutritional dishes or healthy sandwiches for the kids’ lunchboxes. However, while we always set out on the trip to the supermarket with the best of healthy intentions, knowing what to buy and what not to buy can be a confusing task. And even more so when you’re shopping for children.” (more)
