More reason to read to your kids.

We all know how valuable story-telling sessions are. Reading to your young child is not just good for bonding and fun, it is also linked to better academic performance down the road. Now, researchers say reading is important for mastering language — particularly the English language.

Canadian researchers report that reading to kids is a crucial tool in English-language development, but not other languages.

The Canadian study, published in Learning and Instruction, found that a child learning to read English — an orthographically inconsistent language where letters can have more than one sound — need more help than a child learning to read in Greek — a language with one-to-one correspondence between a letter and its sounds.

“We have found that in English, you need a rich home literacy environment — reading lots of books to children,” study leader George Georgiou of University of Alberta in Edmonton said in a statement. “It’s absolutely necessary.” 

Lacking such support, English-speaking children run the risk of falling behind at least two years versus children learning to read in Greek, the researchers said.

Georgiou recommends English-speaking parents invest time in reading to their children or at least expose them to educational TV programs such as Sesame Street and multimedia tools such as spelling games.

Remember though, the multimedia tools and educational shows will only benefit children above the age of two. Before age three, reading and talking to your child is what’s best for developing language skills. Even month old babies can benefit from hearing books read to them.

How much TV is too much?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has had a long-standing guideline on TV viewing for children. The AAP recommends no television for kids under age 2; and for kids 2 to 6 years old, television or computer time should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day.

In our house, we give our kids the two-hours per day media diet. Though admittedly, on weekends they get more screen time — since a movie is often one of our Saturday treats. My husband used to tell me the 2-hour a day rule was too stringent. To which I say, let’s take it from the experts.

Growing up, I think our own parents let us watch too much TV. It is easier to sit kids down in front of a TV or game console, I admit. But who knows how much longer our attention spans would be or how much more creative we would have become?

Dr. Michael Rich is Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at the Children’s Hospital in Boston. He has kids of his own and they don’t watch TV — at all.

Their kids do get to watch a carefully chosen movie every so often as a treat. They love movie time, but are ambivalent about TV. Dr. Rich explains, “my wife and I have provided our kids, who are 2 and 4, with a variety of options for imaginary play, creativity, and physical activity. Since my children don’t expect to watch TV, they never ask for it.”

To the Rich family, the no-TV-life has been completely doable. Dr. Rich points out that kids in the 50’s lived without television and they found ways to entertain themselves — in ways that were better for their development.

Also, he cites many studies that prove too much television doesn’t just shorten attention spans. Conspicuous television viewing among kids has been linked to problems ranging from obesity to bad behaviour.

As for educational videos for babies and toddlers, Dr. Rich agrees these won’t do your baby any good. Studies have proven, babies’ brains are not developed enough to learn from television or computer screens. In fact. Dr. Rich cautions, TV time can steal valuable learning opportunities for a young baby. Instead of having human interactions that develop his brain, he stagnates in front of a TV screen.

But television is not all bad. At a certain age, a little TV viewing can do your kids some good. Dr. Rich explains, “for children older than 2, some educational programs can help improve language skills. But it’s important to choose interactive shows, like Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues. These programs are designed by education experts who know exactly what developmental skills to focus on for every age, and they demand thoughtful responses from the young viewers. So the information isn’t just passively washing over a child. Also, age-appropriate, nonviolent video games can help kids learn about problem solving.”

Watch it! Television food temptations are bound to be unhealthy.

Tune in on Nickelodeon and pay close attention to the food ads. In case you haven’t already noticed, most of these ads targeted to kids are promoting unhealthy food choices. About 80 percent of food ads on the Nick TV channel feature foods of poor nutritional quality, according to a survey by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) based in Washington.

It’s another challenge to hurdle, trying to get your kids to eat oatmeal for breakfast when those Froot Loops and other sugary cereals look so good on TV!

The CSPI food advocacy group does note a slight improvement. Back in 2005, junk food ads accounted for 90 percent of promotional airtime. Today, ads promote slightly better food fare. The improvement stems from a food industry self-regulatory program undertaken through the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative.

But to health advocates, there’s still a long way to go before television and food companies abate their contribution to the childhood obesity problem.

“While industry self-regulation is providing some useful benchmarks, it’s clearly not shielding children from junk food advertising, on Nick and elsewhere,” Margo G. Wootan, director of CSPI nutrition policy said in a statement. “It’s a modest start, but not sufficient to address children’s poor eating habits and the sky-high rates of childhood obesity.”

Under the self-regulatory program, 452 food and beverage products were listed as marketable to children – supposedly acceptable as healthy food choices. The CSPI sees it differently. Upon their own review, they found that 60 percent do not meet nutrition standards for children. Products that didn’t make the grade, but that are still being marketed on TV include:

• General Mills’ Cookie Crisp and Reese’s Puffs cereals
• Kellogg Apple Jacks and Cocoa Krispies cereals
• Kellogg Rice Krispies Treats
• Campbell’s Goldfish crackers Campbell’s SpaghettiOs,
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
• Unilever Popsicles

No brand of puddings, cookies or fruit-flavored snacks met CSPI’s nutrition standards.

How about food products that made the grade? 73 percent of yogurts did. Nabisco Teddy Grahams, Kellogs Frosted Mini-Wheats, Kellogs Eggo Waffles and some Kid Cuisine frozen dinners were also considered nutritionally acceptable.

So what’s a mom to do? There are days when my 3-year old wants her Cocoa Crunch… and I do give in. Bad mom! But I try to make myself feel a little better on Cocoa Crunch mornings by mixing in some bananas or strawberries (her favorite fruits) along with some Special K into bowl. I’m just extra thankful for those days when she’ll eat her oatmeal or eggs and toast!

Too much daytime/daycare TV?

A recent UPI report says children in home-based daycare centers watched television for an average 2.4 hours a day, while children in centers-based daycare watched for only 0.4 hours. That’s a big difference.

The study is worth looking into as majority of US preschoolers are typically in a day care situation. The findings are also worth considering if you are looking for quality daycare for your own child. And if your child already goes to daycare, do you know how much TV time she’s really getting?

Too much TV is not good for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no television for children below age 3. After age 3, they say children should only watch a maximum of two hours quality programming per day.

Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis, lead researcher and director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, looked at television use in 168 child-care programs in four states.

The study, to be published in this December issue of Pediatrics, found that among preschool-age children, those in home-based daycares watched TV for 2.4 hours per day on average, compared with 0.4 hours in center-based settings.

However, some home-based programs were closer to the center-based programs in amount of time they used television, particularly those programs in which the staff had college degrees.

If you are looking for quality daycare yourself, make it a point to visit your prospects. Check for proper accreditation. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accredit child care programs.

As the study has cited, the caregivers’ training and education does have significance. Caregivers with degrees and special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?

Here are other things to consider according to Child Care Aware:

• Adult to Child Ratio. How many children are there for each adult? The fewer the children for each adult, the better. Your child will get more attention and more quality time. The younger the child, the more crucial this is. Babies need and adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult, four infants maximum), 4-year-olds can do well in a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children.
• Group Size. Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller, the better. Imagine a group of 25 2-year-olds with five adults, compared with a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. But which would be a calmer, safer environment? Which would be more like family?

If your child is already in day care, the work isn’t over either. Check-in on the center once in awhile for a friendly visit. You and the caregiver are partners when it comes to your child’s development, so have regular meetings and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Rocking out and rocking in school.

My kids, ages 5 and 3, share a battered boom box. It has blasted everything from Michael Jackson to Vampire Weekend and Putumayo Kids to They Might Be Giants. They enjoy singing and dancing along to all kinds of music. Apparently, there’s more to all this than a great workout and fun.

Neuroscientists and educators are all for music and its role in development. They believe that if children are immersed in songs and movement they are enjoying a “rich sensory environment.” A child exposed to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors and sounds is doing more than just having fun. Stimulate a child’s senses and he forges more pathways between brain cells.

Music in particular has been identified as a great tool for forging neural pathways for kids 0 to 5 years old. Listening to those tunes is definitely beneficial, but the strongest connections are made when kids actively participate in music.

Many studies prove that children who play instruments, who sing or dance to music often

• do better in reading and math,
• have better focus,
• play better with others,
• have higher self esteem.

If you have a toddler or preschooler at home, the simplest thing to do is put on some music and dance with your child. Just have fun with it. Silliness is called for!

You can make musical experiences more visual by adding props to the movement. For example, scarves can show ascending and descending pitches. Let them bang along with toy drums or shake to the beat with maracas. These are just some things they do in typical music and movement classes. You can also sign up for a class to see what they’re all about. Many preschools and young learning centers offer fun music and movement programs.

Try musical field trips and take your kids to a live music performance especially produced for children. Museums, libraries and parks often host performances by music artists that appeal to the young set.

As they get older, encourage their musical inclinations. Get them music lessons if they want to.

My son started taking drum lessons last summer and he’s still into it now that school is in full swing. The drum lessons turned into more than something to pass the time away during vacation. He even wants his own drum set now. Some music educators say, playing drums is essentially counting slices of time and building patterns. I think I’m convinced.

In the last parent teacher conference for my five-year-old, I was told he is reading beyond his grade level and that his “ultimate favorite subject of all time” (his words, his teachers concur) is… MATH. I have always disliked numbers myself, but maybe I shouldn’t be surprised if little drummer boy has grown an affinity for them. At least I know how to count my blessings!

Drummer boy’s little sister like singing and dancing. Now I’m thinking voice or violin lessons for her.

Now Showing: Your Preschooler at the Movies!

Is your little one ready for that first movie date? If he’s past the age of 3, then maybe he’s ready for the cinema experience – complete with dark theatre, big screen and popcorn.

I say maybe because all kids are different. Some children this age can already focus more than an hour for a movie. Some cannot. Some will be bothered or fearful of odd-looking characters. Some may be fascinated. Age is a rough guide really, as much of this first foray into the theatre will also depend on your child’s temperament, interests and quirks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children younger than 2. According to the AAP, at ages 2 to 6, children should be consuming no more than 2 hours of media a day. By media they mean screen time including TV, computers and movies.

Considering these basic AAP guidelines, it’s safe to say you can make that first trip to the cinema after age 3. If your child can watch a full-length children’s film at home, then he’s probably ready for the movie theater experience. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

For young children, “seeing is believing”.

It almost goes without saying, they are not the audience for scary, violent or disturbing films. To a preschooler, if that monster appears in a movie, it could  exist under his bed. Once they start watching films or television, it will be time to teach them the concept of real versus fantasy.

Be prepared though, as the lessons can go beyond what is make-believe and what isn’t. When my kids and I watched a Hallmark version of Alice in Wonderland, my 3-year-old was enthralled. My 5-year-old?  He was disturbed by the Mad Hatter’s seeming psychosis and the Queen with her commands of cutting people’s heads off. I asked him: “But is it real or fantasy?” His response: “Fantasy. But they’re still in my brain!”

Believing certain fantasies can also border on dangerous. For instance, if Superman can fly off a building, your 3-year-old may think he can do that too! This would be a teaching moment for explaining that movie characters can do things real people cannot. Add to that a lesson in safety – and maybe even gravity, if you’re inclined.

Like literature, film offers stories that are rich in life lessons – way beyond the basic lesson that seeing is not always believing. Take advantage.

Children are natural mimics.

They will often imitate what they see and hear. The more “interesting” the behavior, the more they may be inclined to imitate. As much as possible, impressionable preschoolers should be exposed to well-behaved characters. Of course, it is impossible – and also not ideal – to completely shield them from who and what ails our world. When movies show this, get ready to talk to your child about the character’s bad behavior, about how sad it was for the boy to lose his pet, or to be treated badly by a friend. When you engage your child about what’s going on, the movie can become an enriching experience.

Movie-dating in the preschool years.

Since you will be your child’s co-viewer for many years ahead, it’s good to know some relevant movie basics.

First, what do those movie ratings mean? G stands for general audiences, PG for parental guidance, PG-13 for parental guidance for kids 13 and older.

It is the MPAA or Motion Picture Academy of America that gives these movie ratings. Most of the time film industry people themselves make up the MPAA, so don’t just take it from them. Movies for preschoolers will fall under the G-rating, but this does not mean that all G-rated films will be appropriate for your little one.

Having the latest “it” toy doesn’t mean they can watch the movie either. Some cases in point are the live-action movies of Batman or Spiderman. Even if these get all the thumbs up from movie critics, they are just not right for young children. Imagine a 5-year-old meeting The Joker as portrayed by Heath Ledger.

Choosing film fare for young children takes a bit of extra research. There are many good resources that can help. Common Sense Media is a non-stock, non-profit organization that rates media for the young. At their website, you can find age-by-age ratings and reviews of books, TV shows and movies.

Ready, set, watch!

So you’ve decided on that first film, and I’m guessing it’s something from Pixar or Disney. Now before you get tickets, here are a few practicalities.

Tell your child what to expect before getting to the theatre – it will be dark, there will be lots of other people watching with us, etc. With preschoolers, it always helps to set the stage for a new environment.

A matinee screening is a good choice as it fits in with your child’s post-nap or happy-and-alert time of the day. Matinee audiences are likely to have kids in tow like you, and will be more understanding if you have to whisper to your child as you try to contextualize parts of the movie. Expect mid-movie pee breaks, so get seats near the restrooms. Have popcorn and their favorite snacks on hand to keep them happy.

Most important, expect the unexpected and take your sense of humor along for whatever may happen. You are taking your preschooler for the first time into a movie theatre. To a 3-year-old who has never been there before, it could feel like entering a dark, cavernous place filled with strangers. Now that could end more interestingly than the movie itself!