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Childhood Development
Too many educators believe that handwriting is obsolete. Nonsense
By Michael Zwaagstra, National Post January 23, 2015
Far from being obsolete, handwriting remains an important skill in the 21st century and beyond. Paper and pencil may not be as flashy as the latest handheld tablet, but it will help students learn a lot more. Sometimes the simple things really do work best. Many progressives do not agree, but the evidence proves them wrong.
Being Neglected Harms Brain Development in Kids
By Alexandra Sifferlin January 27, 2015
In new research published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers looked at brain differences between Romanian children who were either abandoned and institutionalized, sent to institutions and then to foster families, or were raised in biological families.
Active Parenting - Part 2
Blog by Moms Managing Media January 30, 2015
A MMM mom shares more thoughts about her low tech journey with her four boys!
The death of handwriting? Schools are ditching pens and papers for computers - but could it harm your child's development?
By Victoria Woollaston February 2, 2015
From next year, children in Finland will not be compulsorily taught cursive handwriting.
Instead of learning this skill, schools will be given the choice to teach keyboard typing in its place.
The country's education board said the change reflects how typing skills are now more relevant than handwriting, but experts claim the move could damage a child's brain development.
Kids' exercise guidelines need more focus on brain development
By Kathryn Doyle February 4, 2015
Inadequate physical activity during preteen and teen years negatively impacts learning and brain development, Dr. Gregory D. Myer of the Division of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center added.
"If you get them active for a little while they are going to be better learners," Myer said.
Tech Addictions & Psychotropic Meds
The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act Will Help Big Pharma But Harm Children & Their Families
By By Kelly Patricia O'Meara January 14, 2015
There are one in four Americans currently being prescribed psychiatric drugs; eight million of these are children. A new mental health legislative bill, The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, will not only do nothing to abate the prescription drug epidemic we are currently facing, but will increase the number of Americans put at risk from psychiatric drugs documented by international drug regulatory warnings to have severe and life-threatening risks.
Inside the Tragic, Obsessive World of Video Game Addicts
By Cecilia D'Anastasio January 26, 2015
The story about one families struggle to help their son with his gaming addiction.
Video Games & Porn
Shooting Real People With Your iPhone Gun!
A friend took pictures of two 10 year olds at her daughters gymnastics meet, shooting the gymnasts!
  Click each to enlarge.
Click here to watch a video about the App thy are playing.
Pornographic exposure over the life course and the severity of sexual offenses: Imitation and cathartic effects
By Christina Mancinia, Amy Reckdenwaldc, Eric Beauregard in the Journal of Criminal Justice (Impact Factor: 1.24). 01/2012; 40(1):21-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2011.11.004
Extant scholarship has examined pornography's putative link to the commission of sex crime. Yet, virtually no research speaks to whether an offender's exposure to pornography during many different stages of life elevates the violence of a sex offense. The current study addresses this gap.
Detoxing & Unplugging
Smartphone addictions: Why we need to unplug
By Andrea Tantaros January 22, 2015
Is America's smartphone usage out of control? Fox News' Andrea Tantaros tackled the topic in her show "Trending With Tantaros," speaking to Scott Brown, president of marketing and innovation firm The Company of Others.
Are you ready for the National day of Unplugging on March 6-7, 2015
National Day of Unplugging Kit for Kids (& FAMILIES & FRIENDS & TEACHERS) - Download here.
Education Technology
Researchers Conclude Wireless Radiation Causes Cancer After Latest Scientific Findings Announced
National advocacy group calls on major children's health organizations to promote safe technology in schools with the "Turn It Off 4 Kids" Initiative
Tech Radiation
Radiation From Cell Phones and WiFi Are Making People Sick -- Are We All at Risk?
By Christopher Ketcham / Earth Island Journal December 2, 2011
We are now exposed to electromagnetic radio frequencies 24 hours a day. Welcome to the largest human experiment ever.
What the Cellphone Industry Doesn't Want You to Know About Radiation Concerns
By Brad Jacobson / AlterNet June 7, 2013
A leading expert on health effects from cellphone radiation goes to battle against a multi-trillion-dollar industry.
Social Media & Mobile Technology
Student arrested after teacher takes smartphone: Do our devices own us?
By Dr. Keith Ablow January 28, 2015
A ninth-grader at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, N.J., was caught on video throwing his 62-year-old teacher to the ground and wrestling with him in order to retrieve his cellphone, which the teacher had confiscated.
Popular mobile devices impact amount, quality of children's sleep
By Rose Russell January 25, 2015
There are risks children face when at bedtime they have unlimited access to smart phones, iPads, and similar devices, according to University of California researcher Jennifer Falbe, the lead author of a study about the impact of this technology on sleep deprivation. Are Smartphones Helping Or Harming Children Under 2? 'Shut-Up Toys' Widespread, But Impact Poorly Understood By Fionna Agomuoh February 02 2015 Often mobile devices are used as a "shut-up toy" during activities like car rides when parents cannot give children their full attention, Dr. Jenny Radesky, an assistant professor at the Boston School of Medicine noted. In the long term, unregulated use of electronics can affect young children's attention span, comprehension ability and various skills including self-regulation, empathy, social skills and problem-solving, which are usually learned prior to starting school. Videos Rural Schools in McDowell County - Part 2
PBS Learning Matters February 4, 2015
Supporting grandparents raising grandkids in rural West Virginia Miscellaneous
Men and women competing to be porn stars in new reality show The Sex Factor revealed after auditioning by 'having sex on camera' - including Wall Street intern Paige Jennings
By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com February 6, 2015
If you're struggling with depression that's been inadequately treated, avoid asking your doctor about advertised medications, and instead ask about referrals to mental health clinicians that he or she has worked with and trusts. Word of mouth referrals beat carefully marketed ads any day! Screaming to sleep, Part Two: The moral imperative to end 'cry it out'
By Amy Wright Glenn February 02, 2015 Research is clear. The school of thought regarding infant/toddler sleep known as CIO (in all of its forms) harms the most precious and innocent among us. To knowingly harm babies and children is wrong.
Techno-Autism: Confronting the Ableist Ideals in Media Criticism
Upcoming talk by Anne Pasek, a PhD student at NYU's Department of Media, Culture, and Communications at Theorizing The Web 17-18 of April 2015 in NYC. Why Teens Are Impulsive, Addiction-Prone And Should Protect Their Brains
By MindShift January 29, 2015
Dr Frances Jensen, who's a neuroscientist and was a single mother of two boys who are now in their 20s, wrote The Teenage Brain to explore the science of how the brain grows - and explains why teenagers can be especially impulsive, moody and not very good at responsible decision-making. Transforming Chained Behaviors: Case Studies of Overcoming Smoking, Eczema, and Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania)
By Erik Peper, I-Mei Lin, Rick Harvey, Marina Gilbert, Prathyusha Gubbala, Amy Ratkovich, and Lauren Fletcher in Biofeedback: Winter 2014, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 154-160.
The authors describe the format of a holistic health class provided to undergraduates at San Francisco State University in California. The class initially emphasizes self-monitoring and record keeping to enhance the students' self-awareness of negative emotions, symptomatic behaviors, and other "chained behaviors" leading to various problems, such as smoking or eczema. The students cultivate a variety of positive self-care behaviors and self-regulation skills, such as mindfulness, relaxation skills, visualization techniques, and seeking social support. Finally, they learn to substitute these self-care practices for the negative emotions and behaviors, in the moments of emerging awareness, thus interrupting the "chain of behaviors" leading to problems. The authors provide case narratives of three students implementing this program to address personal illnesses or problems (smoking, eczema, and trichotillomania). Psst. Look Over Here.By Kate Murphy May 16, 2014
Look inside your kitchen cabinet and odds are you have a collection of old friends gazing back at you - the Quaker Oats man, the Sun-Maid girl, Aunt Jemima and maybe a Keebler elf or two. The reason they are there may have more do with your subconscious craving for eye contact than the taste of the products. Programs, Tools & Techniques Family time: Parents can keep teens off drugs By More Content Now January 26, 2015
Today's changing social environment and confusing messages about drugs and alcohol may be making it even more difficult for teenagers to get their bearings as they move toward adulthood. That is why it is more important than ever for parents to know what is going on in their kids' lives and have the skills to respond to their teens appropriately. | 
Post has recorded over 2.2 million Facebook likes for Cris Rowan's article 10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12.
