Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olsen, two researchers from Harvard, have written a book dispelling the myth that video games cause children to become violent. The book, Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do, contradicts the notion that violent video games make for violent behavior in kids.

Kutner and Olsen studied more than 1,200 middle-school students over a 2-year period of time. Much of their data was collected by talking with the students. Turns out, the researchers did see a link between mature-rated titles and aggressive behavior in kids, but there was no evidence that the games caused the behaviors. It can be considered similar to the which came first-the chicken or the egg dilemma? It’s possible that the kids who liked the mature-rated titles had more aggressive tendencies and personalities in the first place.

Instead of placing the blame for bad behavior solely on video games, the book suggests that parents consider a number of factors that are affecting their kids. The researchers caution, though, that too much of anything-like gaming-is not a good thing.

The American Library Association recently released their list of the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2007. For the second straight year, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell’s award-winning children’s book about two male penguins who care for an orphaned egg–And Tango Makes Three–topped the list.

When schools or libraries receive formal, written complaints requesting that a certain book be removed because of content or appropriateness, the book is considered a “challenged book.” According to the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), they received 420 reports from libraries and schools of efforts to have books removed last year.

However, they also note that the majority of challenges go unreported. 

How do you feel about it as a parent? Is it different than how you feel about it as a regular ol’ American citizen? When should people/children have access to information and the freedom to choose for themselves and when should it be denied or controlled? It appears that these questions present themselves over and over again each year when it comes to children’s literature.

Taken from the ALA website, here is the list of the “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007.” You’ll see that they reflect a range of themes and are challenged for a variety of reasons:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell 

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3. Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language

4. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Reasons:  Religious Viewpoint

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Reasons:  Racism

6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit

9. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Reasons:  Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons:  Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

American Girls and Build-A-Bear have nothing on Ridemakerz. Just ask the boys who shop there.

Ridemakerz is a toy car shop; seven of them are currently in business across the country. Of course, they’re popular with boys. But dads and moms and even sisters are finding Ridemakerz a pretty fun place to be. 

Ridemakerz market to the preteens with their “rimz” and “decalz” and “enginez” and “ridez” and prices too. Accessories for the cars and trucks start at $2.50 while the toy cars themselves start at just $15.00. Ridemakerz is targeted for the beginner who wants to make the toy car of his or her dreams out of 600 million possible combinations.

If the sound of Ridemakerz revs your child’s engine, check out their website. Your child can start picking parts and comparing cars or even planning a Ridemakerz party. Hold on tight; it’s a fun ride!

I must admit. I did a double take when I first saw a picture of the Vanity Fair cover with Miley Cyrus on it. I do think it’s a gorgeous picture but appropriate for a 15-year-old? I’m not sure.

The thing is, after listening to comments from her and her parents since the picture has been released, it’s obvious that they had no problems with the various poses and states of robe-and disrobe-at the time of the photo shoot. They assumed it would be done artfully. I think it was. I just don’t know if Miley is old enough to be that artful, you know?

But, I definitely believe that it doesn’t really matter what the public thinks. It matters what Miley and her parents think. Lots of people are talking about the picture; the backlash is might create remains to be seen. At least this provides yet another opportunity for parents to open up a dialogue with their children about choices.

In the last post, I wrote about recommended vaccines for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a schedule of recommended vaccines for people aged 7 - 18 years as well. Their recommendations are as follows:

7-10 years

• Meningococcal (MCV4)*
• Pneumococcal (PPV)*
• Influenza*
• Hepatitis A Series (HepA)*

11-12 years

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• MCV4
• PPV*
• Influenza*
• HepA Series*

13-18 years

• PPV*
• Influenza*
• HepA Series*

*These are applicable to certain high-risk groups only. Check with your doctor for more information.

While this schedule of recommended vaccines is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, you may still have your own questions and concerns. You should always feel comfortable consulting your child’s doctor; there are no dumb questions when it comes to your child’s health.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has launched its 2008 National Art Contest for Children. The contest is open to boys and girls in two age groups, grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. Here are the facts:

• The contest’s theme is How I Can Be Active.
• Children should submit an original piece of artwork to AAP.
• The winner in each age group will invited to attend the 2008 AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Boston on October 11.
• Both winners will also receive $500 and up to $1000 for travel expenses.
• The second-place winner in each group will receive $250.
• All four winners’ schools will receive matching cash amounts.
• Winners and other entrants will have their artwork featured on the AAP Web site and in other AAP materials.

Official rules and regulations are on the AAP Web site. Entry forms and consent forms can be found on the site and must be mailed in with the child’s art work. All entries must be postmarked by July 31, 2008. Sounds like a great opportunity!

When little Lulu wakes up in the morning and says, “I don’t feel good,” how do you decide if she should go to school or stay home? When to keep kids home from school can be confusing for parents, especially when they’re not sure if their child is faking it or is really feeling awful.

Dr. Lori Walsh, a pediatrician in the suburbs of Chicago, offers 3 bits of advice in the Sunday Chicago Tribune for parents who need to know when a sick child is too sick for school. Keep your child home if any of the following conditions apply:

1. Your child has a 101-degree temperature or more
2. Your child’s stomach pain moves from the middle of the belly to the lower right quadrant-a sign of illness more than anxiety
3. Your child has a combination of sore throat, headache, and stomachache-that’s the trifecta when it comes to strep throat.

Are adolescent girls looking at Hollywood stars as role models? Not so much, according to the April issue of Glamour magazine-more like train wrecks. In fact, preteens have some words of wisdom for the young starlets in Hollywood. These tremendous tidbits of advice were written in letters to the stars by young girls with great insight:

Dear Celebrities-Instead of doing drugs when you are bored, you could help other people- Rebecca Fink, 10, Glen Ridge, NJ

I know you don’t get it now, but when you are older, you will see and wish you never did [drugs]. - Sharon Howard, 10, Alpharetta, GA

I just wanted to let you know that millions of girls and even some boys look up to you. - Natalie Fleming, 12, Arlington, VA

Drugs don’t make you happy, and then you have an awful hangover. I want to ask, Seriously, celebrities, why? - Olivia Losee-Unger, 13, San Francisco, CA

Pretty bright kids, don’t you think? So what about your preteens? Do they feel the same way as the girls who wrote into Glamour or do they admire the glitz and glamour portrayed by young Hollywood and ignore the drugs, DUIs, and stints in rehab? The mixed messages that preteens get today have to be confusing-especially since they’re bombarded on a daily basis. And unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better anytime soon.

The push is on. The end is near. The finish line is in sight. For many of you, your child has two months left of school. You’re. Almost. There.

My best advice: stay on the same team as the teachers–especially if you’re dealing with a ‘tween.

Parents of ‘tweens (10- to 14-year-olds) not only have to deal with the changes in their relationships with their children, but they also have to confront the changes in their relationships with their children’s teachers. Many of you served as PTO presidents or created costumes for school plays. You felt welcomed in your child’s classroom; you were needed and wanted.  Now, you don’t feel welcome in your child’s bedroom, let alone his/her classroom. Yet, you are assets-to both teachers and your kids-when you become allies.

Parent-teacher communication is just as important in middle school as it is in elementary school-maybe even more so.  Parents, teachers, and students are in this thing together.  With the end of a successful school year just weeks away, hang in there and keep the lines of communicatino open. It’s not always easy but it’s as important as ever.

Stage parents are back in a big, bad way.

First, on American Idol, reports continue to surface about David Archuleta’s father being way over the top. Archuleta, who seems to be a fan favorite-especially with young viewers-has his father with him in Hollywood since he’s still a minor. Some sources have claimed that Daddy Archuleta is overbearing and very hard on David-reducing him to tears on different occasions. Last week, it sounded like Simon Cowell took a swipe at David’s dad by insinuating that the song David sang couldn’t have possibly been chosen by David…meaning Daddy Dearest may have been behind the bad song selection.

But the parents on the VH1 reality show I Know My Kid’s A Star might take the case for scary stage parents. And when you watch them push and berate and ridicule their own children, you, of course, wonder who exactly wants to be the star…the parent or the child.

Unfortunately, these parents aren’t only on reality shows and they aren’t only the parents of kids in show business. Look around…I’m sure you see them pushing kids too far on the sports field-in the classroom-at dance recitals-at the swimming pool-the list goes on. My question is…is it ever someone else’s place to step in and stop these parents?