Page 11 – Kidzu

Home Schooling Goes Semipro

Doug

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August 21, 2023

As a new school year commences, fewer parents are playing the role of educator to their own children. Instead, they’re ceding that responsibility to home-schooling startups populated by adults who have opted to become un-credentialed at-home teachers.

Attracted by the huge uptick in parents choosing home-schooling for their kids (home-schooling numbers exploded during COVID and even today remain 40% above pre-COVID levels), private enterprise has moved in to take the pressures off parents.

These companies have created some variation of hybrid, pod, co-op, and micro-school with the goal of educating children outside more traditional venues. “For a growing number of students, education now exists somewhere on a continuum between school and home, in person and online, professional and amateur,” writes Laura Meckler.

Although some of these private home-schooling setups employ professional educators, many (perhaps most) do not. Meaning that many educators are adults who have pivoted from their previous professions to teach children.

The growth of these programs has been fueled in part by private investment which, in turn, see opportunity in states that allow the use of tax-exempt educational savings accounts.

Despite critics’ concerns that these private, community-based systems are unregulated, a growing number of parents are being drawn to them for those very same reasons.

COVID shutdowns and public education’s intransigence toward the issue (along with the struggles kids faced being locked out of schools), was a particular frustration for many parents. Drawn to these new educational opportunities, they refused to look back even after schools reopened.

Whether these new approaches to home-schooling work, it seems clear education in America will never be the same.

Organized Sports (and Reading) Build Smarter Kids

Doug

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August 28, 2023

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Organized Sports (and Reading) Build Smarter Kids

We all know that kids who read for pleasure are smarter than kids who skip the books. But the same also can be said of kids who participate in organized sports.

Or so say neuroscientists from the University of Eastern Finland, who spent two years monitoring the activities of 504 kids and their cognitive development. Their findings: kids who read and participate in organized sports develop stronger thinking skills compared to kids who spent time with video games and unstructured free play.

Throw in a healthy diet and kids’ cognitive abilities truly thrive.

While much is known about the benefits of reading, the Finnish study adds to a growing body of research demonstrating that organized sports – particularly team-focused – improve brain function, memory, learning ability, and of course, physical health.

This coincides with previous studies showing that team sports builds confidence in kids, lowers rates of anxiety and depression, and helps with socializing / networking skills.

This is not to say that some unstructured play isn’t good for kids. In fact, there is quite a bit of research demonstrating that so-called free play – when kids can entertain themselves beyond the ever-vigilant eye of adults – is great for creativity, problem-solving, and learning how to socialize.

Similarly, video games – especially when done in a group setting – offer some benefits, including improved memory and spatial awareness skills.

But the problem, say researchers, is that far too often kids are left to their own devices (pun intended) and over time they suffer from stunted levels of cognitive development. Of particular concern is the level of toxic behavior, harassment, and bullying kids can encounter in unsupervised gaming and social media settings.

A Stunning 41% of Young Athletes Exhibit Signs of CTE

Doug

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September 1, 2023

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A Stunning 41% of Young Athletes Exhibit Signs of CTE

A new study reveals that 41.4% of athletes, ages 30 and younger, show signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can lead to depression, apathy, impulse control issues, suicide, and dementia.

The study of 152 donated brains from athletes who participated in contact sports as youth revealed definitive signs of CTE, suggesting the disorder is far more prevalent than previously thought. These rates are much higher than those found in the general population.

The study is also notable for revealing the first case of a female athlete with signs of CTE.

It’s also worth noting that the same behaviors – such as depression, impulse control struggles, etc. – are prevalent in athletes whether or not they have been diagnosed with CTE.

“This study highlights the importance of assessing the symptoms and clinical presentation of CTE in living athletes who have sustained repetitive head injuries,” said Nsini Umoh, PhD, program director for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

The researchers urged athletic programs to put in place strict guidelines to ensure young athletes exhibiting signs of neurological distress to seek immediate medical care.

Trigger Warnings Trigger Anxiety in Kids

Doug

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September 17, 2023

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Trigger Warnings Trigger Anxiety in Kids

At a time when epidemic levels of stress and anxiety plague young people, a Harvard University analysis of multiple studies shows that the trigger warnings meant to protect them not only don’t work, they actually lead to more anxiety in kids.

Trigger warnings have become increasingly popular in recent years, their goal to protect impressionable young minds from potentially stressful situations and encounters. For example, students may be warned that the content they’re about to read or view contains material they may find offensive. Some institutions even allow students to opt out of such potentially ‘triggering’ situations.

But critics of trigger warnings argue that they unnecessarily coddle young people and not only fail to prepare them for the real world, but actually create higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Research appears to prove those critics correct.

The Harvard researchers looked at a dozen studies on trigger warnings to determine whether they offered a demonstrable benefit to the students they were designed to protect.

What they found was that “trigger warnings had no effect on subjects’ emotional responses to the material, did not make them likelier to avoid it, and had little to no effect on participants’ comprehension. They did, however, slightly increase subjects’ anxiety prior to being exposed to the material.”

The Harvard study comes on the heels of a similar meta-analysis by Australian researchers who came to virtually the same conclusion: trigger warnings don’t protect young people and may actually hurt them.

The Australian researchers concluded: “In our review of 20 peer-reviewed studies, published between 2010 and 2020, we found that trigger warnings can inflame existing stressors and exacerbate maladaptive behaviors, both of which can undermine students’ autonomy and their ability to cope with potential distress.”

Growing Anxiety Levels in Young People

It’s an important issue given the growing epidemic in levels of youth anxiety, depression, suicide, and addictions. In other words, it seems clear that far from protecting young people, trigger warnings quite likely are contributing to their sense of fear and danger in the world around them.

By cultivating a ‘danger mindset,’ we are putting young people at risk of higher levels of anxiety and stress, says Jonathan Haidt, the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Haidt and others like him instead argue that young people should be taught to look squarely at the world around them in order to build some emotional resilience, which will serve them well in the long run.

American Parents Rank Last in Caring About Kids' Manners, Obedience

Doug

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September 18, 2023

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American Parents Rank Last in Caring About Kids' Manners, Obedience

If you’re wondering why a growing number of American kids are ill-behaved and show little if any respect for authority, you can blame their parents.

Or so says an international study of parenting priorities across 26 countries.

Conducted by King’s College of London, the study examines the qualities parents value most in raising children.

In the U.S., parents rank dead last in the degree to which they value good manners and obedience in their children. And when it comes to obedience, the U.S. isn’t alone. Across many countries, obedience has increasingly taken a back seat to other qualities.

What do U.S. parents value? Imagination, hard work, independence and religious belief.

Just 10 Minutes Per Day of Dad's Time Increases Kids' Academic Performance

Doug

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September 21, 2023

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Just 10 Minutes Per Day of Dad's Time Increases Kids' Academic Performance

Kids who spend as little as 10 minutes per day actively interacting with their dads – reading, drawing, playing, singing, etc. – perform substantially better in school than kids who do not, says a large-scale study following the progress of roughly 19,000 kids born between 2000-2002. And those results are the same regardless of a child’s gender, age, or socio-economic background.

The implication: more than 18 million American kids who live without a father at home could face significant academic challenges unless their fathers (and mothers) find a way to ensure dad is actively involved with his kids.

The University of Leeds’s Millennium Cohort study found that 3-year-olds who spent as little as 10 minutes per day actively engaging with their fathers, resulted in better academic performance by the age of 5. That same trend continued between ages 5 and 7. These, of course, are critical years for cognitive development.

“Mothers still tend to assume the primary care role and therefore tend to do the most childcare,”noted the study’s lead author, Helen Norman, PhD. “But if fathers actively engage in childcare too, it significantly increases the likelihood of children getting better grades in primary school. This is why encouraging and supporting fathers to share childcare with the mother, from an early age in the child’s life, is critical.”

Researchers also revealed that when fathers and mothers both participated with the kids, fathers’ impact was biggest on academic performance while moms had more of an impact on a child’s emotional and social behaviors.

“Our analysis has shown that fathers have an important, direct impact on their children’s learning,” said Jeremy Davis, PhD and co-author of the report. “We should be recognizing this and actively finding ways to support dads to play their part, rather than engaging only with mothers or taking a gender-neutral approach.”

The researchers concluded that dads must find ways to carve out time each day to spend interacting with their kids. They also urged schools to collect contact information for both parents and to put in place practices to ensure dads were actively involved with their kids on a regular basis.

The bottom line: without dad involved, kids are going to be at a real academic disadvantage.

Kids Who Make Music are Smarter, Less Anxious, and More Thoughtful

Doug

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September 23, 2023

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Kids Who Make Music are Smarter, Less Anxious, and More Thoughtful

Talk about music to a parent’s ears. In an era when so many kids are struggling with anxiety and academic performance, it turns out music is to kids what spinach is to Popeye.

In fact, just listening to music with your kids builds stronger family bonds. It also should be noted that learning an instrument pays much bigger dividends than kids simply learning to sing. Toss in movement (aka being a part of the marching band) and your child basically becomes a superhero (and everyone knows the band has more fun at games).

So what makes music such a superfood for young minds?

Peace of Mind

Numerous studies have demonstrated that – whether you’re 90, 19, or 9 – playing a musical instrument leads to decreased anxiety, improved communication skills, stronger mental health, greater intimacy with others, and improved cognitive function.

Brain Development

A five-year study by USC’s Brain Creativity Institute revealed that kids who play music dramatically outpace their counterparts in language development, reading skills, speech perception, and processing sound.

Language

Kids who learn music take their language development skills to a whole new level. MRI scans reveal that the left side of the brain, where language processing and sensory perception takes place, shows demonstrable changes courtesy music lessons.

Self-Expression

Childhood – particularly adolescence – can be painfully awkward. Learning music helps ease those pains by providing kids with a creative outlet for self-expression. It also builds strong friendships, a sense of teamwork (much like team sports), and a sense of belonging.

So mom and dad, if you want to help your child avoid today’s twin plagues of childhood anxiety and academic struggles, consider music lessons. Yes, listening to your child torture a cello or trumpet may be temporarily painful to you and the rest of the family, but it’s safe to say the benefits outweigh the discomfort.

Don't Give Your Kids Melatonin

Doug

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September 26, 2023

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A recent survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that nearly half of the parents polled have given their kids melatonin to aid with sleep, despite repeated warnings against such measures.

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the brain’s pineal glands to support sleep functions. Increasingly popular as a ‘natural’ sleep aid in the adult population, that usage is now spilling over into the way adults treat their kids’ sleeplessness.

Why is supplemental melatonin a problem? For starters, it’s unclear the degree to which it might interfere with the body’s natural production cycle (including both the quantity and timing of that production, two aspects critical to a good sleep).

Additionally, sleep isn’t the only body functions affected by melatonin. The hormone impacts the body’s antioxidant defenses, helps regulate blood pressure and body temperature, and helps to control cortisol (aka stress hormone) levels. It also can affect sex and immune functions.

Dangers of Melatonin in Kids

The simple truth is that children should not struggle to sleep. If they are having issues, parents should dig into why and treat that issue rather than supplementing their children with melatonin or any other sleep aid.

Although available over the counter in the U.S., melatonin is only available via prescription in Europe and even the only for adults.

And because many if not most melatonin supplements are sold in gummy form, the CDC warns unsupervised kids may overdose on the supplement. High levels of melatonin can lead to breathing and other issues.

The CDC reports more than 4,000 kids were hospitalized over the past decade, five requiring breathing help. Two children under the age of two died.

Home Trauma Leads to Muscle-Obsessed Boys

Doug

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December 4, 2023

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Home Trauma Leads to Muscle-Obsessed Boys

Boys who experience home-life trauma are far more likely to develop muscle dysmorphia, meaning an unhealthy obsession with putting on muscle and being especially lean.

In a new study published to Clinical Social Work, researchers found that children who experience at least five adverse childhood experiences (ACE), including domestic violence and emotional abuse, are far more apt to become obsessed with packing on muscle.

Common sense tells us this is a natural reaction, with advanced musculature creating a sense of stability and strength in an otherwise untenable, unreliable situation.

Given that previous research shows that roughly half of American children experience at least one ACE during their childhood, it’s important that parents pay attention to a child’s sudden preoccupation with building muscle.

The researchers noted that while previous studies have demonstrated a connection between ACE in girls and eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder, there has been far less of a focus on muscle dysmorphia.

“Those who experience adverse childhood experiences may engage in the pursuit of muscularity to compensate for experiences where they one felt inferior, small, and at risk, as well as to protect against future victimization,” noted the study’s lead author, Kyle Ganson, PhD.

Dr. Gabriela Vargas, director of the Young Men’s Health website at Boston Children’s Hospital, says roughly 60% of American boys are engaged to one degree or another in changing diet and putting on muscle. “While they may not meet the diagnostic criteria of muscle dysmorphia disorder, it’s impacting a lot of young men.”

Dr. Vargas and other specialists urge parents to pay attention to any dramatic changes in their boys’ exercise and eating routines, including excessive selfies, weighing themselves multiple times per day, and wearing baggie clothing to hide what they consider unflattering physiques.

What can parents do to combat the problem? Recommendations including:

Ensure the family dines together as often as possible
Refrain from commenting on body shape or size
Open, honest, and judgment-free communication
Don’t buy nutritional supplements touted to build muscle

'Terrifying' Number of Kids Getting Regular Doses of Melatonin

Doug

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December 16, 2023

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'Terrifying' Number of Kids Getting Regular Doses of Melatonin

Nearly 20% of kids are now being dosed with melatonin on a regular basis, a “terrifying” development in the eyes of experts who warn the long-term effects of the supplement remain unknown but could pose long-term problems.

“It is terrifying to me that this amount of an unregulated product is being utilized,” says Cora Breuner, professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington.

As with other pediatric experts, Breuner is deeply concerned that kids may be developing unhealthy dependencies on an unregulated replacement for a naturally occurring sleep hormone.

In a survey of more than 1,000 children, researchers discovered that nearly 20% of kids, ages 1 to 14, were taking melatonin as a sleep aid. Many of these kids had been taking it daily for a year or longer.

Researchers argue that because melatonin is commonplace on store shelves, including in flavored chewable forms, parents mistakenly believe it is safe to give their children. Worse, many of those gummies may also include CBD.

Between 2012 and 2021, the rate of melatonin overdoses in children increased by an astounding 500%, according to the Centers for Disease Control, including two deaths.

Although there has been little long-term research into the the risks of melatonin supplements, there is some evidence it may impact the onset of puberty and impact a child’s ability to metabolize glucose.

So what should parents do to help their kids sleep? For starters, take away digital devices at least an hour before bed, ensure bedrooms are dark and quiet, and keep your kids active as much as possible.

Melatonin supplements? Don’t do it. Just don’t.