Children’s Mental Health Week in the U.K.

Bravo to Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William for headlining the first Mental Health Week for Children in the U.K.  They are urging greater awareness and care while calling for an end to the stigma around children’s mental health that likely keeps many from seeking help.  What I especially admire is her willingness to say that a child’s mental health is every bit as important as their physical health.  “No one would be embarrassed to seek help for a child with a broken arm.”  She highlighted what I’ve especially found true is that early intervention for childhood problems prevents these from becoming life long or adulthood problems.   The Place2Be charity cites research that says depression has increased by 75% in adolescents over the past 25 years and three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition.

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Sleepy Teens

A December 2014 study confirms that texting, gaming or Internet chatting at night disrupts adolescent sleeping.   More than half of kids have trouble falling asleep according to earlier studies because electronic habits are highly stimulating.  These kids were more likely to suffer from insomnia and anxiety and depressive disorders.  This latest finding from Brigham and Women’s Hospital indicate electronic devices decrease natural melatonin release.  These subjects were less tired by bedtime and less alert the next day despite getting 8  hours of sleep.  Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to a host of major health problems.  Your teenager certainly won’t be happy about it short term but you’ll be doing them a favor if you get electronics out of their bedroom.  Parents, too!

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New Year’s Challenge

This Montana boy cranked out a pretty impressive New Years Resolution in 2014.  I shared this story with my 8 year old and he’s motivated to duplicate Jonathan Sarisky’s feat.  He’s got visions of a new iPad dancing in his head.  Whether it’s increasing hours of sleep, reducing hours of screen time or improving exercise or nutrition this might be a fun yet effective way to encourage our kids to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.  If they can do it for a year it should be something they take with them into adult hood.

Happy New Year.  Wishing your family much love, joy and peace in 2015.

Golden 2015 Happy New Year Greeting Card With Sparking Spot Ligh

Kids should move to boost their brains

It’s not a new concept that physical activity improves cognitive functioning.  But one of the most ambitious studies of physical activity and cognitive performance in children was published in the September issue of Pediatrics.  Researchers at the University of Illinois recruited 220 public school students for a year long study.  Half were used as a control group while the other 110 participated in a 2 hour session of fun, physical activity after school each day.  The researchers were most interested in executive functioning.  These are the cognitive skills which are most important for academic performance.   As would be expected the exercise group at the end of the year showed substantial improvements on each of the computerized, cognitive tests compared to the control group in addition to the expected gains in physical fitness.  Students who attended the most exercise sessions showed the greatest improvements in their cognitive scores.  I am going to make sure my kids are moving!

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