According to researchers at Brigham Young University, children with speech impairments are not able to handle emotions as effectively as their peers with normal language development. Apparently, many speech-impaired children struggle with reading facial expressions and sizing up social situations, a skill that should be addressed in speech therapy, according to Bonnie Brinton, the lead researcher.
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Language Skills And Emotional Competence Linked Sun Oct 9, 2005 9:26 am
Is This For Real? Sat Oct 8, 2005 10:03 am
Do we really need police intervention to break up a squabble between six year olds that doesn’t involve weapons? One mom apparently felt it was necessary, but only to protect herself from being accused of child abuse. All I can say is, wow.
The Industrialized Nation That Couldn't Fri Oct 7, 2005 8:56 am
Well, here we are talking about education again. It seems that this issue is a continual thorn for parents, because our current systems just aren’t working. According to this CNN article (Associated Press), the U.S. ranks second in educational spending per student among industrialized nations, but ninth in student achievement. When I talk with other parents and listen to them obsess about getting their kids placed in this school or that, it all seems silly until I see numbers like these.
Are Computers Really Good For Learning? Thu Oct 6, 2005 9:56 pm
Wow, this article certainly presents a viewpoint contrary to popular educational themes today. Imagine if kids were actually suffering academically with increased computer usage. This piece from Orion magazine is long, and covers lots of ground to make the argument that our schools have overdone themselves on technology. One of my favorite points of discussion includes the claim that computers are “just a tool” in the classroom. The author explains that educational tools “...reconstitute all of the relationships in an environment...” and that in choosing tools we “...are deciding what kinds of encounters with the world we value for our children, which in turn influences what they grow up to value....” Whether you agree or not, many of the arguments in this article remind us that our tools and modes of communication are more powerful than we might have imagined, and we should choose carefully.
I Think We Already Knew This, Didn't We? Wed Oct 5, 2005 9:26 pm
For parents who have survived the preschool stages of their children’s lives without catching a disease they didn’t know existed, we now have a new study that confirms what we already knew: 3 and 4 year olds are living, breathing petri dishes. We love them a lot, but they carry tons of germs. So, last year when the flu shot was in short supply, many of us with preschool aged children were wondering why these loving little germ mongers were not deemed worthy of a flu shot.
Choosing Sports For Your Child Mon Oct 3, 2005 11:14 pm
In this age of kids playing on multiple sports teams during their school years, now we have some new advice: Make sure you as a parent understand what your child will be gaining from the sport and the team. Well, there is an idea. Imagine the possibilities if sports-minded parents worked toward the goal of well-balanced children. Even though the same experts providing this advice can write an essay on the benefits of sports, they are suggesting that parents actually consider the effects of the sport on their particular child. I would have thought parents were doing this already, but alas, I am wrong, as witnessed by the violent behavior by parents at children’s games. Thanks to CNN for bringing us this helpful reminder.
Another Vaccine Blunder Sat Oct 1, 2005 9:22 pm
For those of you with kids who are in college or approaching college age, keep an eye on the meningitis vaccine. Apparently, some recipients of the vaccine are showing symptoms of Guillain Barre syndrome, and it is not known whether the cases are linked to the vaccine or not. The Food and Drug Administration has not changed the recommendation for students in high-density living situations to receive the vaccine, but this warning is being issued to the public as a precaution.
