The Kids Speak Out

Kids & IQ Scores

A rise in average IQ scores makes kids today exceptional by earlier standards was the headline of an article I just read.  If judged only by their IQ scores, kids today are smarter than any generation since IQ testing began.  We all think our kids and/or grandkids are the smartest kid ever birthed.  And now it may appear to be true.  It is believe that this is attributed to:  a richer intellectual environment; smaller families; testing dexterity and possibly genes.  I use to ask my grandson "how did you get so smart?" and he would apply "it's my brain, grandma." 

My only concern is if the teachers are able to keep up with these intelligent kids.  I have experienced some teachers that are lost when it comes to relating to kids in their classroom.  I hate to categorize it this way but it appears with some teachers the only way they know to relate to some of the kids in the classroom, who are completely bored with the average teaching that has been in place for generations, is to bully the student.  I believe it is the responsibility of the parent to check on the teachers to make sure their kids are being taught in the best way possible; considering our kids are getting smarter each and every day.  Let's not, as adults, stay complacent and think kids today can be raised and taught the same way we were raised and taught. 

Another way is showing a kid respect is to acknowledge how smart the kid is and compliment him/her each and every day on a good thing they have said or done.  I remember Reese Witherspoon at the Academy Awards this year thanked her parents for always supporting her and complimenting her.  Her comment was something like "even when I would make my bed, my parents would tell me what a good job I had done".  She said those compliments and support stayed with her in her life.

Kids and Blame

Good grief.  A new report has been released stating the kids causes parents depression.  What else can we blame the kids for in our lives.  More than 13,000 adults participated in the study, which record how many times a week people suffered from a series of symptoms:  from sleeplessness and loss of appetite to distractedness and loneliness.  All of which are common symptoms of depression.  The study show that a higher level of stress, anxiety and worry and those feelings remain even after the kids leaves the home.  The author of the study said the finding suggest that being a parent is far more taxing then most people expect and that the benefits of parenting do not outweigh the negative effects in terms of mental health.  Depression did not show up that much among the parents with smaller, younger kids.

I know my mother always said, "You kids did not cause me any trouble until you left home and grew up."  Then she would laugh.  I think I know what she was saying, don't you?

I asked the kids if they thought they were in anyway responsible for causing their parents to be depressed.  They all said, "no", my parents causes me depression.  I did read an article on how many kids are on depression medicine and we are not going to go there in this article.  I think we all acknowledge that being a parent is the most awesome, painful and happy experience of our life and being a kid is the most awesome, painful and happy experience of their life.  It just is not an easy life......

Kids and Obesity, Part III

Parents are robbing their kids the experience of childhood and the fun of being a kid by enrolling their kids in too many after school sports, music, dance competition.  Childhood is all about teaching kids they do not have to be perfect.  It is important for kids to discover themselves through play. Physical exercise, competitive sports and down right play time needs to be incorporated into a kid's life - it is difficult to determine how much of each is necessary.  What does this have to do with obesity?  Kids natural way of life is to play, play and play some more.  Obesity, so I have read, so often is a mental "thing" and a sign that life is just not right with the person.  When a kid is limited in their creative play time, life somehow is just not right with the kid..... 

Kids and Obesity, Part II

In Part II of Kids and Obesity we are going to explore one of the ways kids have chosen technology over outdoors activities.  In Leedstoday Evening Post Alison Bellamy wrote that not many years ago when you entered a kids bedroom you would most likely find a clothing mess, a teddy bear, a train and other miscellaneous toys flown on the floor.  But computer technology has changed all of that.

Go to your kids room and see how many of these items you can find:

• a stereo system
• a video player
• a iPod or mp3 player
• a PC computer with printer with lots of games installed
• a digital TV or Sky TV
• a DVD player
• a X-Box with challenging games

If these items are not in their bedroom do your kids have access to them in your house?  It is estimated that a third of kids own these gadgets, entertainment and hi-tech equipment worth over $2,000 - $4,000 range......

Kids and Obesity, Part I

I have done a lot of research and reading on Kids and Obesity because of one sentence I read in one of the first articles on the subject:  "This is the first generation where the kids will not live longer than their parents".  I thought "what in the world" is this all about.  The newspaper and magazine headlines all over the United States are referring to report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.  Dr. Phillip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force and author of the editorial, said, "We have truly a global epidemic which appears to be affecting most countries in the world."

After half North and South America children will be overweight by year 2010.  The reasons stated are......

Listening to the kids

If you ask kids what one of their major problems is they will tell you: "getting people to listen to me when I speak".   This is not just your "run of the mill" listening like we adults listen to our spouse, clergy on Sunday morning, your employer and your friends - it seems to be a different kind of listening to kids.

I will explain it the best way that a kid explained it to me.  A little girl was in the kitchen when her mom was preparing the family dinner.  The little girl was talking to her mom and sensing her mom was not listening to her - she said, "Mom, listen to me".  The mom explained "I am, honey".  The little girl said "No, you are not - I want you to listen to me with your eyes.".

Get it?  When kids want to talk to you, they want you to take the time to look into their eyes so they have your abiding attention.  Let me say, I have known some kids who do not know "when to stop talking" - they just go on and on.  So, when the kids in your life takes the time to talk to you and if you sense it is important to the kids take the time to "listen to them with your eyes."

Kids on life's roller skates

If you want to experience first hand kids determination - take a kid to the roller skating rink.  I had that privilege about a month ago.  I was surprised.  I believe you will be too if you sit and watch the kids skate with a notepad and pencil in your hand and you write down what you observe.  The group of kids having the school party ranged in the ages of kindergarten through fourth grade.  Let me tell you what I observed............