Communication with Infants and Toddlers

NY Times article entitled "From Birth, Engage Your Child with Talk." The article explores a modern phenomenon of mothers and other caregivers spending more time on computers, cell phones and blackberries than talking to their children. The article then reviews positive communication strategies that parents can use to facilitate language skill growth in their children. It also gives some specific tips on building language skills. Have you seen parents with their children, but not talking to their child? What kind of communication skills do you use with your children? How might different strategies impede or facilitate growth?

Interruptions in the Doctor's Office

NY Times article entitled "Your X-Ray Shows.... Oh, Excuse Me." The article discusses a research study that explore interruptions during physician's visits, and found that on average, a doctor is interrupted twice during each visit. Interestingly enough, patients also get interrupted during their doctor's visit. Would you answer your cell phone during a doctor's appointment? Would you mind if your doctor answered his/her phone during your appointment? How could patients and doctors work together to reduce the interruptions?

Working in Late Life

CNN article entitled "Workers Thriving at 70, 80, and even 100." The article talks about how many older workers are choosing to work later in life, rather than retire, and gives three examples of older adults who are thriving in their late-life work. The article also discusses workers who would like to retire, but are unable to do so because of economic reasons. Do you plan on working past retirement age? What are the pros and cons of working in late life? How might it impact your sense of meaning and purpose in life?

Bedtimes and Health

CNN article entitled "Enforcing Bedtimes Improves Kids' Health." The article reviews a study that indicates that when parents enforce a consistent bedtime, the child's mood improved. Those parents who have a bedtime routine (e.g., bath, story time, etc) have an easier time putting their child to bed. How do you help a parent who has difficulty enforcing a bedtime with their child? What strategies might you employ?

Treatment Center for Web Addiction

NY Times article entitled "Center Tries to Treat Web Addicts." The article discusses a new treatment center that opened in Washington state that exclusively treats people addicted to the internet. Although internet addiction is not currently a diagnosis in the DSM-IV-TR, web addictions fit some of the criteria seen in other addictions. Is addiction to the internet (e.g., social networking sites, online games, etc.) becoming a life-threatening problem? How might a family member or friend intervene if you suspected your loved one was becoming addicted?

Even Babies Discriminate

A Newsweek article (lengthy, but a good read) entitled "See Baby Discriminate: Kids as Young as 6 Judge Others Based on Skin Color. What's a Parent to Do?" This article explore the results of multiple research studies that examined children and discrimination. One study explored childrens' attitudes towards other ethnic groups based on skin color, and what those children felt like their parents' attitudes were towards other groups. Theis study author points out that those parents who talked openly with their children about race had children who were more positive about other groups. Should we openly talk about race from early childhood or wait until our children bring it up? How does the research in the article indicate parents should do this?