amw | amotherworld

News

Old Cartoon Characters from the 70s 80s and 90s Taking Over Facebook

December 4, 2010

Cartoon Characters are taking over Facebook!

People on Facebook are changing their profile pictures to shots of cartoon characters from the 80’s in an effort to speak out against childhood violence. Facebook users are circulating the following message:

“Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (Dec. 6), there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is for violence against children.”

Here are my top five cartoons from my childhood:

1. Flinstones:

Who didn’t grow up watching the Flinstones? The original ran from 1960 to 1966 but various spin-offs were done in the 80s; Flintstone Kids (1986-1988), Flintstone Funnies (1986-1988); The Flintstones Comedy Show (1980-1981); The Flintstone Family Adventures (1980-1981) and The Flintstone Family Adventures Hour (1981).

2. Scooby Doo:

There have been variations of Scooby shows including Scooby and Scrappy Doo (1979-80), The Scooby, Scrappy and Yabba Doo Show (1982-83), The Scary Scooby Funnies (1984-85) and Scooby’s Mystery Funhouse (1985-86).

3. Smurfs:

This popular show about small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs ran from 1981 to 1986. Who could get the theme song out of their head? Poor Smurfette was the only female in the village.

4. The Jetsons:

The Jetsons is a prime-time animated sitcom that was produced by Hanna-Barbera, originally airing from 1962–1963 and again from 1985-1987. It was Hanna-Barbera’s Space Age counterpart to The Flintstones, a half-hour family sitcom projecting contemporary American culture and lifestyle into another time period.

5. Fat Albert:

In 1969, a TV special was aired named “Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert.” Bill’s adventures in Philadelphia in his youth were the main focus of the series. The TV show followed the same premise and covered light and serious topics, including family issues and drugs. Bill voiced several of the characters. He was also the host of the show in brief live-action bits. The show ran from 1972-1984. In 1979, the show was renamed from “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” to “The New Fat Albert Show.” and a segment was added featuring the black superhero, the Brown Hornet.

What were your favourite cartoons from your childhood?

Featured

Children Behaviour Problems Due to Parenting, Not Genes: New Study

December 3, 2010

Contrary to general perception that aggression or depression lies in one’s genes, a new study has found that the traits may be linked to parenting at home.

The nature vs. nuture debate continues with this recent study which found that parent’s attitude affect a child’s brain in his early stages of development. Positive and negative parenting practices are related to children’s mental health problems.

“This finding has significant implications for all parents – including those who are not genetically related to their children such as adoptive parents and genetically unrelated parents of IVF children.

Rather than blame children‘s behaviour solely on the genes passed on from a biological parent to a child, look at the environments that children live in to understand better why some children develop behavioural problems while other children do not,” team leader Professor Gordon Harold said.

The crew of researchers led by Gordon Harold, the Head of Otago’s Centre for Research on Child and Families studied the behavior of parents and children bearing relationship naturally through genes and those born through in-vitro fertilization. The survey was conducted on parents of 1000 children from Britain and America aged four-six years olds. Children were analyzed for their anti-social behavior and depression.

Children’s anti-social behavior and anxiety was not related to genes as some of the children in both the groups – naturally conceived or through in-vitro fertilization showed such tendencies, the study found. The major impact was found to be of parents’ negative or positive behavior towards their children. Thus, the environment in which children are brought up contributes a lot in altering their behavior.

Published in the ‘Psychological Medicine’ journal, the study suggests that the parenting environment plays a unique role in children’s development.

“The study found parents who were hostile to their children promoted increased levels of aggression in their children”, said Professor Harold.

Featured

New Child Nutrition Bill Passes in U.S.

December 3, 2010

Legislation that seeks to transform school meals in large part by adding more fruits and vegetables has passed U.S. Congress.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act has been approved by the House of Representatives in the U.S., paving the way for President Obama to sign the legislation.

The $4.5 billion child nutrition bill will improve the quality of food in cafeterias and increase the number of children who are eligible for the federal free and reduced school lunch program.

The bill will also support farmers through Farm to School programs, address skyrocketing obesity rates, and feed more hungry children.

Once standards are established, opportunities for fresh fruits and vegetables at schools will expand significantly.

“Today, we celebrate a truly historic moment. We thank the sponsors of this legislation for providing leadership and including a first-time investment in Farm to School programs in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Funding this innovative and effective program will benefit America’s children and farmers through providing healthy foods and creating new markets,” stated Anupama Joshi, Co-Director of the National Farm to School Network.

However, the new act will be partly funded by cutting food stamps. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that they will be working to restore food stamp funding and protect federal nutrition programs from further cuts.

Entertainment

Eclipse on DVD Release December 4

December 3, 2010

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will be released on DVD on Saturday, December 4th at 12:01am.

All around the world, teenagers and twilight moms will be watching the love triangle of Bella, Edward and Jacob.

The third instalment of the series exceeded my expectations. Although Kristen Stewart hadn’t really improved in her acting ability, I thought the film was done well.

The Eclipse DVD has tons of extras including commentary with Robsten, music videos and deleted and extended scenes Twilight creator Stephenie Meyer and producer Wyck Godfrey are featured and there is a “making-of” documentary.

Thousands of retails locations nationwide will take part in DVD midnight release events for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse DVD.

Off screen, Robert and Kristen have been hanging out together as a couple – or not. They are certainly being very discreet and coy about their relationship.

This week, the pair were steaming up the camera lens in their new scene for the Breaking Dawn on location in Brazil. On the beach, Kristen’s Bella and Robert’s Edward shared a passionate kiss.

News

New Baby Crib Regulations Announced

December 2, 2010

The Canadian federal government has announced regulations that will make cribs, cradles and bassinets safer for infants and young children.

“The health and safety of young children is a top priority for the Harper Government, which is why Canada’s requirements for cribs and cradles are already among the most stringent in the world,” said Minister of Health, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq.

“These amendments further strengthen our existing safety requirements and introduce new standards for bassinets, which were previously unregulated in Canada.”

“As a parent, I know that these new regulations will relieve the minds of many parents – especially new moms,” said Shelly Glover, MP for Sain Boniface. “These regulations will make it easier for parents to help keep their newborns, babies and toddlers safe.”

Since 2009, almost three million cribs have been recalled in Canada, most of them of the drop-side variety, because of potential suffocation risks.

While the new regulations don’t address drop-side cribs, they will broaden the definition of a crib by eliminating the distinction between standard and portable cribs, and include stand-alone bassinets.

The regulations will eliminate toeholds that could enable a young child to climb out of a crib and fall to the floor causing a risk of injury; and add new flammability and side-height standards.

“These amendments further strengthen our existing safety requirements and introduce new standards for bassinets, which were previously unregulated in Canada,” said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

The government is also continuing its consultations on drop-side cribs. Proposals before the government would ban the controversial cribs, along with any with sides that are not rigidly attached.

It is important for Canadians to remember that second-hand cribs that are being sold or given away must meet the current regulations. Cribs, cradles and bassinets without a label or instructions may not be safe and should not be sold or purchased. Cribs with visible signs of damage, missing parts or missing warning information should be destroyed.

More information on crib safety is available on Health Canada’s website. A Fact Sheet highlighting the changes to the Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations is also available.

Holidays

Happy Hanukkah! Happy Chanukah!

December 1, 2010

by Melissa Steinberg Brodsky

Chanukkah. Oh, Chanukkah.

It meant lighting a Menorah. Saying the holiday blessings. Gathering around a table and playing the dreidel game with gelt, or aluminum wrapped chocolate coins, potato latkes making the house smell of oil, tearing of wrapping paper to quickly get to the point of the holiday, the presents. Happy childhood memories.

Traditions.

Growing up, it was the one holiday my sister and I lived for, besides Halloween of course. Because during Chanukah, we’d finally get some of the things we wanted that we had been drooling after, thanks to television commercials which were always out in full force, even then.

Honestly? The prayers said while lighting candles on the Menorah were absent-minded-ly recited. All we would be thinking about was which present from our lists would we be getting tonight? If. Our Mother actually followed our lists, of course.

My sister and I always had a huge list of wants and must haves. Because we were never, ever, over-indulged. We had to either earn what we wanted by receiving good marks in school or we would have to wait until the eight nights of Chanukkah.

We weren’t spoiled. So we actually appreciated the things we got. We cherished them. We looked forward to them. We used them.

Kids these days. And by that, I mean, my kids.

They could care less about Chanukah. Admittedly, that is my fault. Because my children are spoiled. They get shoes, more than once a year. Drawers and under beds, overflowing with clothes and other (un)necessary objects which threaten to overtake our living space.

Traditions long gone. In fact, we haven’t been able to find our Menorah since we moved into our house, almost 6 years ago. Sadly, it hasn’t been replaced by anything other than the aluminum foil version that the local Orthodox Rabbi delivers to the neighborhood houses.

My children, when asked to make a Chanukah list, get stuck. They don’t want or need. A single thing.

They asked for money this year.

So they could have spare change.

They want spare change and gift cards to iTunes. They don’t mind not lighting the Menorah. They do know the blessings though. They could care LESS about potato latkes with apple sauce. They don’t beg to go to or to have Chanukah parties. Dreidels have been replaces by computers and iPods.

Traditions.

Seems they’ve taken on a new identity. One that I don’t recognize. But I have enabled.

Maybe this year, we will start a new tradition in our family. We’ll celebrate Chanukah like we used to, back in the olden days.

Even if for only one night. After all, there are eight nights!

Melissa Steinberg Brodsky is a wearer of many hats. Some fit. Some she has to force her head into. And some fall off. She is a social media addict who can be found constantly on Twitter. She co-owns SmartSavvySocial.com and writes, almost daily, on her blog Rock and Drool about life and how she sees it. She isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. After all, it’s her blog, she’s allowed.

Motherhood

Wordless Wednesday: Caught in the Act

December 1, 2010

“No Mommy, I didn’t put my hand in the jar of Nutella.”

Featured

Eating Disorders Increasing In Children in the U.S.

November 29, 2010

The number of American children under 12 who were hospitalized because of an eating disorder has jumped 119 per cent between 1999 and 2006, according to a new report.

Eating disorders are sending more U.S. children to hospital, and pediatricians should be on the lookout for patients suspected of having a problem, according to a clinical report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“We are seeing a lot more eating disorders than we used to and we are seeing it in people we didn’t associate with eating disorders in the past — a lot of boys, little kids, people of color and those with lower socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Dr. David Rosen, a professor of pediatrics, internal medicine and psychiatry at University of Michigan who authored the research

At the same time as eating disorders have risen, the obesity epidemic has also increased. According to Rosen, it is crucial how parents and physicians are talking to young people about obesity. Concerns about overweight and obesity have prompted some physicians to counsel their young patients about nutrition, which Rosen said can backfire if not handled correctly.

“There are lots of kids in my practice who say their eating disorder started when their family doctor told them, ‘You could stand to lose a few pounds,'” Rosen said. “As physicians, we need to make sure our conversations are not inadvertently hurtful or impact their self-esteem.”

Parents and pediatricians also have to be aware of the changes in their children’s health and look for signs. Signs include a child whose progress on growth charts suddenly changes, very restrictive eating, compulsive over-exercising, making statements about body image and disappearing after meals.

As with mental health problems and addictions, ranging from depression to anxiety disorder to alcoholism, studies have shown that eating disorders can run in families. There is a strong genetic component, according to Rosen.

“We used to think eating disorders were the consequences of bad family dynamics, that the media caused eating disorders or that individuals who had certain personality traits got eating disorders,” Rosen said. “All of those can play a role, but it’s just not that simple. All young women are exposed to the same media influences, but only a small percentage of them develop eating disorders. So what is different about those 1 percent that develop an eating disorder compared to the 99 percent who don’t?”

It is estimated 0.5 per cent of adolescent girls in the United States have anorexia nervosa (self-starvation), and one to two per cent meet criteria for bulimia nervosa (bingeing and purging).

For more information, read:

Eating Disorders: The Facts and How to Get Help

Eating Disorders in Hollywood: Celebrities Who Suffer

Featured

Teaching Kids to Be Thankful

November 29, 2010

Growing up, I only had a few toys to play with. Greek newcomers to Canada, we didn’t have much. My treasured childhood favourites were a couple of Barbie dolls. My dad once made me a chalkboard himself so that I could play pretend school.

When the Cabbage Patch doll came out, I remember the anticipation and joy when my dad took me to wait in line to buy it at Woolsworth.

Almost 30 years later, here I am with a family of my own and so pleased to be able to give my kids everything. But when is everything too much?

My kids are like any other – they want toys for Christmas. No clothes! No pyjamas! Toys toys TOYS! This year, I don’t want a repeat of last Christmas when my boys tore through their gifts like tornadoes, opening one gift after another without appreciating the thought and value of the gift. They were excited of course but I realized I needed to do more to teach them how to properly acknowledge the person who gave it to them and give a proper thanks, and to truly be thankful for the kind gesture. It was a rude awakening and I vowed to change their behaviour.

But the abundance of tempting ads on television for toys and video games don’t help the “I Want” syndrome of our kids’ generation. Many parents find their children have written with a Christmas list that is out of control. And while we love to play Santa, we want our kids to grateful about what they already have, to be thankful for and appreciate what they are given, and to understand the joy of giving as well.

How do we instill the value of being thankful? Giving thanks? Giving to others? Here are some tips that might be useful.

Teaching Kids to be Thankful

The Truth:

Although kids can be trained to say “please” and “thank you” beginning at about 18 months, real appreciation, gratitude and generosity take time to truly develop. Persistence in teaching them the rules is key.

High Expectations:

If your child writes out a gift wish list that is longer than expected, explain that you understand there are things he wants but in reality, he may only receive a few of them. Have your child shorten that list down, or create two lists, by choosing those he really wants and those he could live without or wait for.

This year, I asked my The Boss (who is 6) to write a Christmas list. Surprisingly, he had only written three items on his wish list.

Receiving gifts:

Before the madness of any gift-receiving occasion, have a talk with your child first. Remind her that even though she may not like every toy, she should still show her appreciation and thanks.

Giving Thanks:

Anytime your child receives a present, point out that the person giving the gift put much thought and effort into it. Talk about how this person must have taken a lot of time to think of or make the gift, how that person must really know what you like, how nice and thoughtful it is. The concept of quality gifts and not quantity, will become learned with time. After your kids receive gifts, get them into the habit of writing thank you notes.

Giving to others:

When you take your kids out shopping, tell them that your shopping trip is only to buy gifts for the family member. Help them to get excited about giving by getting them involved in choosing the gifts for grandma or uncle Joe.

Comparing:

When your child complains about his friend or cousin having something that he wants, explain that what works in one household may not work for another.

My son complains that his cousin has two Nintendo DS’s and wants one himself. But I really refuse to buy him one because a) The Destroyer will want one too and I’m not buying two; b) they are expensive and so are the games; and c) we already have the Wii, which the whole family can play.

My explanation was, “Well, the Wii is more fun because we can all play as a family. The DS is only for one person.”

Donating:

Once or twice a year, ask your kids to get involved in donating clothes and toys to those less fortunate. Kids can enjoy going through their belongings and picking out toys they don`t play with anymore to someone who needs them. If there is a local toy drive, ask your kids to help you pick out some toys to donate. Bring them to the toy drive drop-off together.

Being Grateful:

Expose your kids to all walks of life. If you see a homeless person for example, ask questions to your kids: `Where do you think that person sleeps? Do you know he doesn’t have a home? “ It’s important that kids will know how lucky they really are.

Be a role model:

Your kids watch your every move and every word you say. Show your manners and grateful behaviour and your kids will follow suit. In your own everyday interactions, always say please and thank-you and be kind to people you encounter at the grocery store, bank, school, etc. Your child is really paying attention!

Featured

Eating Vegetables Fights Disease, More Orange and Green Vegetables

November 28, 2010

Your mom was right! Eating your vegetables really do make you healthy.

We have all heard of beta-carotene and it often gets the spotlight for being the reason why so these veggies are good for you. But now, alpha-carotene is receiving credit for living longer.

A current study notes that alpha-carotene, which is found in yellow-orange veggies like carrots, squash and sweet potatoes and dark leafy greens like kale, broccoli, spinach and collard greens, may be particularly effective in inhibiting the growth of certain cancers.

Both beta-carotene and alpha-carotene are members of the carotenoid antioxidant family and when ingested both are digested and then converted to vitamin A. Researchers have found that alpha-carotene plays a vital role in defending cells’ DNA from attack.

Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study for 14 years and found those with more alpha-carotene in their blood had lower risks of cancer, heart disease and death.

This is noteworthy in light of a recent observational study that found that eating vegetables didn’t do much to prevent cancer. Still, other evidence has suggested that high-veggie diets are associated with lower heart disease risk and that certain vegetables contain powerful cancer-fighting compounds.

The CDC has found that not even a third of adults eat even two servings of fruit each day and only a quarter eat three servings of vegetables.

So you are absolutely right in telling your kids to eat their veggies. And so should you.