Camp Helps Kids Unplug from Media, Mom and Dad

Camp Helps Kids Unplug from Media, Mom and Dad: "I saw a “tween” recently in my therapy practice that I suspected might have some food issues. When I began asking gingerly about her eating habits she whipped out her cell phone to text her mother: “What do I usually eat for breakfast?” After a minute of messaging she turned her attention back to me to report the results of her inquiry.

Now, I’m sure this young girl could have answered my questions without electronically soliciting help from her mom. Yet her reflexive texting habit made stopping to think for herself entirely avoidable – and regrettably so, because stopping to think is often when important insights occur. That’s why I leave a lot of space in therapy sessions for thought and contemplation on the part of the children I see.

Unfortunately, stopping to think is a behavior less and less common among teenagers and pre-teens. We all know the reason: instant Internet communication plays an increasingly dominant role in the lives of ever-younger children" ... (Click on title link above to read the entire expert article on how sending your kids to camp might just improve their thinking and problem solving skills.) ...

UCLA scientists identify gene linked to deadly disorder in newborns

UCLA scientists identify gene linked to deadly disorder in newborns: "DNA detective work will lead to earlier prenatal testing.
After 12 years of searching, UCLA scientists have tracked down the first known gene mutation responsible for a heartbreaking disorder that kills newborn babies. Published in the April 1 online edition of the American Journal of Human Genetics, their findings will allow for earlier testing of embryos at risk for the disease.
Many things go awry in short-rib polydactyly syndrome. The fetus develops extra fingers and toes and its skeleton doesn't grow, resulting in stunted ribs that prevent the lungs from maturing in the womb. Unable to breathe on its own, the child dies shortly after birth."... (Click on title link above to read entire article about a deadly disorder in newborn babies that is associated with a gene.) ...