So, this is part two of my discussion of whether school projects are good or bad for students.  For those of you who haven’t read the first part, here is a brief summary: projects are very good for students, although they do have some negative aspects.  If you want to read it, here is the link.

Now, this part focuses on a specific aspect of projects: large portions of parental help and whether it is right or wrong. Based on my past experiences, I feel it is far more wrong than right.  But, I shall try not to be biased and list the pros and cons. (more…)

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There has been a huge rise in children joining social media sites like Facebook and MySpace.  Although there are some great pros and cons against this, how young is too young?  Would you allow your children to join one of these sites?

First off, there are some pros to allowing children to join social sites.  In my own family, I am able to share pictures with my nieces and nephews.  They are able to stay on top of my daughter with us living 720 miles away.

I am able to communicate with them in the medium of their generation, online.  My oldest niece, who lived on the west coast her whole life, and I have been able to bond greatly through chatting and social sites.  Now that she is a grown woman with a child of her own, I love sharing stories and quick comments with her. (more…)

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This year in physics class, I have had a plethora of projects to do.  I made an egg-safety chamber, a catapult, a propeller powered car, a mousetrap powered car, and a bottle rocket.  So, I figured, “Why not write an article on the pros and cons of school projects?”  And guess what?  I wrote one!

First of all, I am going to list the pros, just to build up your little spirits and then crush them with the cons. (more…)

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We live in a time where anything can be learned almost instantly…the Information Age.  If I want to learn how something works, the rules to a game or even diagnose myself when I feel sick, I hop onto the Internet.  There are sites that teach you anything and allow you to connect with any of the earth’s six billion inhabitants.

When I was growing up, I had the local or school library and our collection of encyclopedias to learn new facts and world history.  By talking to my parents, elders and other older kids, I was able to pick up on tricks to do things more easily and even learn to fix my bike or whatever else I wanted to know.  Although all of this knowledge and wisdom was invaluable, I was limited to what these people knew (good or bad) and the currency/accuracy of the books in the libraries.

Today’s youth can learn nine different ways to patch a hole in their bike tire without ever asking a single soul.  They never even have to leave the house or the bedroom to write a single research paper even.  If they are truly resourceful, they can connect through the Internet to experts in the field they are studying.

However, does having all of this knowledge pose a safety threat to children?  My first experiences with the Internet in the late 90s were all ones I wouldn’t want my kids to experience.  I had friends who downloaded a book titled, The Anarchist Cookbook.  This book taught you how to make bombs, fake IDs, and gave young devious minds many more tips that we were not mature enough to grasp.  Luckily, my friends were smart enough not to try most of the suggestions.

There are still those sites out there today that show videos of people trying stupid things, teaching how to pick locks and build some pretty bad stuff with just a few clicks.  I am not trying to scare you or create mass hysteria banning the youth from the Internet.  Rather, I want to inform our children not to try this at home OR anywhere else.

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Summer vacation either has arrived or is right around the corner.  While it is important that children get some sort of exercise daily, it also is important to take precautions when the temperatures are hot.  I was able to speak with Diane King, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and Certified Athletic Trainer, from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine.

When dealing with summer heat and exercise, it is very important to make sure your child is hydrated.  According to Ms. King, “An important thing to remember is that thirst is not a good indicator of when to drink.  By the time a child notices they are thirsty, they are already in early stages of dehydration.  And at that point, it may take a while to replace these losses.  Children have a considerably lower sweating capacity than adults.  Because of a greater ratio of body surface area to body mass, children absorb heat more quickly when the ambient temperature exceeds skin temperature. So they overheat more quickly especially if they have not been out in the heat much.”

For tips on how much fluid your child needs to stay hydrated, Ms. King referenced the Beverage Institute’s guidelines. The recommended amounts are:

• 12-16 ounces- 2 hours before start
• 8 ounces- 15 minutes before start
• 4-6 ounces every 20 minutes

“Sipping fluids every 15-20 minutes makes it easier on the tummy/gut, too. Gulping a lot of water all at once can slosh around depending on the activity. If they are drinking water from a water fountain, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount although in general, the estimate is 1/2 – 1 ounce per gulp.  So kids will say they had a lot to drink and it could turn out to be very little.”

It is important not only that children stay hydrated but also that they don’t overheat.  If children are involved in outdoor exercise or sports, there are several precautions that can be taken when the temperature rises.  Some of Ms. Kings’ suggestions were:

• Adjust the practice schedule accordingly.
• Schedule training sessions to avoid the hottest part of the day (10am to 5pm).
• Avoid radiant heating from direct sunlight especially in the acclimatization period.

Don’t forget to apply sunblock and keep hydrated, and then let your kids enjoy the outdoors and exercise all summer long!

Learn more about summer fitness, including warm-ups & cool-downs, workout suggestions, hydration tips, and exercise via your smartphone.

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