Parents can cultivate excellence, no matter what genetic blueprint.

Many parents ask themselves at one point, what can I do for my child to achieve greatness? Author David Shenk dares to answer this loaded question with his new book The Genius in All of Us: Why everything you have been told about genetics, talent and IQ is wrong. Shenk asserts that genius can be ignited. His book discusses how the nature versus nurture debate has been missing the point all these years. His book shows evidence on how human achievements are the outcome of the nuanced interplay between genes and environment.

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The FDA warns food companies to be honest with their marketing claims.

Don’t take that food label as truth. U.S. health regulators have warned units of Nestle and more than a dozen other foodmakers over nutritional claims made for baby food, nuts and other products on food labels and product websites, according to letters made public last week. The warnings came as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to push for new package labeling geared toward making it easier for consumers to understand the nutritional content of the foods they eat.

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They’re not my kids, should I tell them how to behave?

Disciplining another person’s child is treading on shaky ground. We don’t want to offend a child’s parents, but there are times when we need to step in. Dr. Michelle Borba, author of the book No More Misbehavin’: 38 Difficult Behaviors and How to Stop Them assures us, “it’s not intruding on another parent’s turf when you’re protecting your own child.” However, let’s lay some guidelines for responding to another parent’s misbehaving tyke.

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Make sure your dog is baby-friendly.

Young children are especially vulnerable to dog attacks. We love dogs, but some of them can pose serious danger to a baby — even dogs that you’re familiar with. A pediatric surgeon who has had to treat children from dog attack injuries says take extra care with Pit bulls and Rottweilers.

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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.

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Kids — what a source of much-needed laughter in our lives!

I have two preschoolers at home who are still trying to master the nuances of language, and in the process have said the most adorable things. If only I can remember every butchered phrase, mispronunciation, surprisingly sage words from the oh-so-young or words just so wrong they’re so hilarious. I have decided to keep a journal of these “isms” from my kids. For your entertainment, I’ve added other gems from my friends’ children. Enjoy and be inspired to compile your own funny quips from the young.

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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.

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Say hello — and welcome — to that imaginary friend.

My friend Irene has an invisible younger daughter named Turtle. Before you think my friend is crazy, consider the back story. She’s given birth only once — to a very imaginative 3-year-old real-life daughter named Emma. In Emma’s mind she has a younger sister she named Turtle. Turtle goes with them everywhere and she also likes cornflakes and bananas just like her older sister Emma.

Once upon a time, imaginary friends were considered a cause for concern. These days, research tells us quite the opposite. Children with pretend-friends and who can conjure elaborate make believe worlds have a promising future of learning and social development.

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Hospitals need to listen, we need to make sure we are heard.

Here’s a cautionary tale for us parents of young kids…. A Florida father who lost his young son to a series of preventable hospital medical errors said hospitals need to embrace a culture of listening to parents. While we can’t be sure hospitals will be taking his advice right away, we need to make an extra effort to make sure our health care practitioners pay attention to what we tell them.

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Start them young on those healthy habits.

Sticking to a simple routine of healthy family behavior can spell the difference between a child who’s healthy… and a child who’s obese. U.S. researchers say the routines of family meals, adequate sleep and limited television viewing may lower the risk of childhood obesity.

Each routine on its own was associated with lower obesity and more routines translated to lower obesity. 

Four-year-olds living in homes with all three routines had an almost 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than those living in homes that practiced none of these routines.

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