Baby Learning Programs - Pass or Fail?

Many well-advertised learning programs promise to teach infants and toddlers to read, increase school readiness, enhance learning capabilities and so forth.  Commercials show children as young as 6 months reading aloud to ecstatic parents.  Sounds to good to be true, right?


Research has proven time and again that these programs DO NOT deliver advertised results.  Additionally, infants and toddlers who watch these videos can actually delay learning and mastery of language, reading, and other forms of communication.

Television exposure (especially for children who are not verbal) delays language development. 

Infancy is a period of development in which outside stimulation is key.  Baby brains grow and form connections based on the amount and variety of experiences they encounter.  Watching television is not a replacement for face-to-face communication and tactile stimulation (touching, exploring).  In fact, watching hours of television has been shown to reverse the current communication level of infants and toddlers.

What should parents do to enhance infant learning?

• Talk to them - Do not use baby language, your tone is most important. 
• Vary their activities - Take them to different types of places (grocery store, coffee shop, park, zoo, etc.)
• Teach them with music - Play classical music to soothe them and teach them to do things with songs
• Touch is important - Have "toys" that vary in texture and shape
• Read to them - Read any and every thing to your baby.  Vary your tone of voice for affect
• Turn off the T.V. - Refrain from using the t.v. as a babysitter and do have it on when they are in the room (at least until they can speak in full sentences)    

Is There An Age When You Should Be Married?

Many 30 somethings feel pressure from society, family, and friends to explain why they are not yet married.  Do the same pressures to get married exist for adults in 2010 that existed for those in 1900? If so, where do they come from?


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age at first marriage in:

• 1900 was 25.9 for men & 21.9 for women
• 1950 was 22.8 for (m) & 20.3 for (w)
• 1990 was 26.1 for (m) & 23.9 for (w)
• 1995 was 26.9 for (m) & 24.5 for (w)
• 2000 was 26.8 for (m) & 25.1 for (w)
• 2008 was 27.6 for (m) & 25.9 for (w)

The numbers show that men and women are getting married later in life as time goes on.  While some are postponing marriage for many reasons (career, education, freedom, etc.) others still feel pressure to be married by a certain age.

Research on attitudes about marriage show that young people view marriage as important and most of them expect to get married.  

In fact, 83% of 20-24 year-olds expect to get married at some point with almost half expecting to marry within 10 years.  

Apparently, the ideals of young adults reinforce the expectation that people should be married during their 30s.     

Source: Young Adult Attitudes About Relationships and Marriage

Your Sexual Behaviors May Not Keep You Safe

According to the Centers for Disease Control (2008):
     19 million STD cases each year, almost 50% are in people aged 15-24
     Chlamydia and gonorrhea are most commonly reported
     Syphilis (virtually absent 10 years ago) is on the rise
     Despite vaccine, human papillomavirus (HPV) rates increasing in those 18-59
     
Engaging in risky behaviors (i.e., improper use or no use of contraceptives, multiple sex partners) increases risk for contracting a STD.  Although, people who practice "safer" sex may be at an even greater risk as a result of their partners behavior.  Researchers report that partner sexual behavior is a bigger predictor of STD risk than individual behavior. 


Partner characteristics that increase STD risk:

• Marijuana and alcohol use
• Age difference of 5 years (older or younger)
• History of jail/imprisonment
• Other sexual partners in the past year
• Having an STD in the past year

The more of the above characteristics, the higher risk for STDs.  Participants whose partners had all five were 3 times more likely to have an STD.  Overall, having an STD and age difference were the biggest predictors of STD risk.  


If you practice "safer" sex and are in a monogamous relationship, you may still be at risk, especially if your partner a) falls in the above categories & b) is dishonest about his/her behaviors.


Source: Partner Behavior and STD Risk

Nursery University

Navigating all of the things associated with education (cost, admission, recommendations, entrance exams) can be a nightmare for both parents and students.  It is a process that many prepare for well in advance...starting with preschool enrollment.  Choosing where to go, how much it costs, and how to get in are decisions that can be more difficult than admission into an ivy league university.


This documentary follows the process some parents encounter enrolling their children into exclusive and costly nursery schools.