Category Archives: kids and technology

November? Salt water!

Posted on by

Blessed be the Geeks, for they shall inherit the earth.

Quick linky round up on a Monday

From Zero to Three, a wonderful round up about screen time for young children.  Check it out and commence downloadery HERE.

THIS is a link to a magazine I didn’t know about until very recently!  It’s called Brain Works and I reckon you might enjoy a wee gander.

A couple of links from Scientific American … THIS is about the ‘orchid child’ explanation for sensitive children … groovester.  And HERE is an article about happiness, or about the fact that not everyone is seeking it.

HERE is an excellent piece from a most outstanding website … it’s about Aligning and Investing in Infant and Toddler Programs and it’s from the Center for American Progress.  Read!

The Society for Research in Child Development have released a Policy Brief, and you can read about it HERE … its called How Abuse and Neglect Affect Children’s Minds and Bodies.

Finally, with thanks to Rox and Bee and my ladies … the most inspiring anything for ages:

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. Isak Dinesen

and more links

Posted on by

Many interesting and varied things, in no particular order …

I LOVE this, from Scientific American, about creativity.  I used to teach a College class called “Fostering Creativity”, back in the day, and at the time I went to a meeting where a woman disdained teaching creativity to children, saying “I don’t want my kids to be artists …”.  At the time I was all goldfish mouthed and hopeless, but if I had my wits about me I’d briefly defend the artistic life, and then remind her that scientific and technological breakthroughs are going to depend upon a creative approach to whatever.  The quote I love from that Sci-Am article back there:

As it turns out, creativity is just as important in medicine and engineering as it is in journalism.

 

Now, THIS pdf, from www.childtrends.org, will take a while to download but you will be so glad you did it.  It is full of amazing maps that show various trends in child & family well being, all around the world.  You’re welcome.

Other stuff: The abstract to some research about families who use corporal punishment, and how what they do differs to what they SAY they do.  I like it when non-brainiac sources talk neuroscience, like this from Wired mag.

Here is a piece about infant memory,  this is a description of findings about maternal depression (*peaking when children are four years old … implications, anyone?) and … REALLY?  Too much internet is bad for children?  Ya don’t say!

Last one, then I got to go read Scarry to my girl.

Please check out this super cool initiative from Australia – I have not known of such a funding scheme before but ME LIKEY.  Ten20 provides ten years of funding and support for 20 communities working to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

Super cool.

 

next week we go screen free

Posted on by

profilepicKia Ora geeks.  Getting ready to turn off, here.  Husband is unenthusiastic as can be.  Big Girl is a little better.  Baby Girl will be deceived into thinking TV is broken.  She’s two.

A family’s prep for screen free week is described here, and this is from Psychology Today – some brain benefits of unplugging are included.

Whether you’re into Screen-Free Week or not, I reckon you will DIG these fab resources from the excellent organisation known as TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment).

While we’re at it, check out this great news from Brazil, where it is now illegal to market directly to children, and look at this primo follow up on the 1981 LEGO ad.

Finally, the legendary Lillian Katz is still raising consciousness about childrens’ early learning, this time cautioning against attempting to teach children to read too young.

while she sleeps …

Posted on by

Little Girl is napping.  She is a disco napper and will be awake in moments.  As usual, there is the scramble to decide how best to use this time.  Today, I will share links … cos there are some goodies.  Then, I will step away from the screen.  Promise.

It’s time to vote on the worst toy of the year over at CCFC.  Toady Time!  It’s gonna be hard to choose.  There was some diabolical stuff in 2013.   Some great toys for those who fancy buying some … gotta love the anti-princess, pro-engineer Goldie Blox range, and if you haven’t watched the ad yet you’re in for a treat!   Slightly older kids (myself included) might just covet these yummy electric circuit building bits from Little Bits.  

But let us never forget that some of the best toys ever aren’t necessarily for sale.  Thanks National Toy Hall of Fame for reminding us.

A couple of completely different treats now … research about the effectiveness of parenting programmes in primary care situations (eg GPs offices), a yummy blog found by my dear Lauren … Girl Meets Dirt.  I dig it.   AND it has led me to iamthemilk, which is full of good writing about family life, motherhood, loss, and milk (all part of my daily life.  Salut!)

My warm and sleepy toddler has climbed into my lap, hair all skewiff.  This is over for now.  Arohanui xx

 

 

listening. and linking.

Posted on by

Friends,

As my dear late mama used to say “we have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we talk”.

I’ve been working hard to be a better listener of late: toddler, big girl, hubby & friends.  Sometimes I’m good at it and other times I’m appalling.  But it’s humbling how hard I have to work.

Let’s start with a lovely reminder of the camaraderie of motherhood.  Tired mothers: you’re not alone.

This is a link to a li’l cautionary piece about kids and screens, here is another version of the same thing (with handy advice for parents, this time!) and check this out: children are way more distracting to drivers than cellphones!

This is a luscious list to give us some alternative ideas to use in discipline with our kids and this is some pretty fascinating research about aggressive behaviour and a possible link to epigenetic changes during pregnancy & early childhood.

OH! And while we’re thinking about early brain stuff (aren’t we always!) you gotta listen to my dear friend & esteemed colleague Nathan Mikaere Wallis talking early brain development on Radio New Zealand’s Nine to Noon show.  HERE is the link. 

When you finish, p’raps you’ll join me on a quest to be a more attentive & honest listener.  Do you find it as tricky as I do?

here, there & in between

Posted on by

bridge babyLadies and Gentlegeeks,

A few links to warm your heart (or worry your mind …?)

Behold a collection of fab parenting blogs, starting with this excellent post about trusting our children from Bonnie Harris.  This is a lovely piece about how Mamas “do nothing” all day (reminding me: time to reread Naomi Stadlen’s magnificent book …) and this blog might have a slightly dorky name, but SHEESH the content is stellar.  The Scary Mommy blog also has some good content, but is the “Mommy Confessional” off to the right which feels so intimate and personal I can’t quite believe I’m reading it.  What up, Mamas?

Also taking it personally: a teacher pal of mine warned me after a meeting she’d attended … the controversial and FLAWED national standards of education being pushed on New Zealand schools is rumoured to have its insidious eyes on BABIES now.  I will keep y’all posted.

Another warning or three – marketers are coming for the tooth fairy now.  Here is some rebuttal for the nonsense of apps being marketed for babies, and finally from the RWJF, some harsh truths about fast food advertisers and the way they stalk our kids.

If all that is stressing you out, check out this splendid video from the Action for Happiness folks.  Then feel better.  (Cos we all are feeling a smidge better, apparently).  Phew.  Night night.

overanalysis paralysis

Posted on by

Gotta be careful, my geeky brothers & sisters.  I’m all a-flutter about the new website and I have been kind of staring at it for ages … poised.  So full of anticipation and humble-hearted that I wind up a great ball of inactivity!  Thus: let’s dive in and do what Baby Geeks DO.  A broad trawl of interesting stuff and a scoot through some child-focused, science-y links.  Behold!

Let’s start with a piece from Slate that I am choosing to serve as an explanation as to why my photos are always a bit disjointed and odd.  I am pretty passionate about preserving the anonymity of my children.  Also from Slate: the grossness of celebrities who tweet the voices of their children.

While we’re being suspicious of technology (an effortless task for this geek), here is a li’l something about use of tablets with children (not asprin, iPads).  Might be time for an appy change?  For real, though, it should be no surprise that the advice for parents seems to be very similar as the advice we’ve always been given re: the telly – resist the temptation to use it as a babysitter, instead use it as an opportunity for connection and a springboard for conversation.  Because talking with children is really important, eh?

Here is a write up about some Australian research reinforcing the role of exercise in boosting kids’ cognitive abilities, let this inspire pregnant mommas (and the rest of us!) to eat well, and I’m a wee bit excited about this burgeoning parenting ed info from Norway.  While you’re there, have a geez at the menu on the left of the article.  You might go NUTS.  I did.

Here is yet another piece about the value of fathers, this is a fairly fabulous article from Psychology Today about “What Happy People Do Differently”, and … just cos I am a bit in love with myself for taking my kids swimming yesterday (*I am NOT a naturally aquatic creature and barely EVER do my poor children get this experience on my watch!) I will end with the neurological explanation for crinkly fingers and toes after overexposure to water.