TV Not All Bad for Kids, Study Discovers

Doctors' group also says breastfeeding cuts SIDS risk

(NEWSER) - The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines for infants to cut down on sleep-related deaths and reduce TV time. The new sleep guidelines now recommend against all types of bumper pads, noting that “there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.” They also urge mothers to breastfeed babies and give them pacifiers to reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome, the Wall Street Journal reports. Parents are urged to let their babies sleep in the same room, but not the same bed, as mom and dad. More»

School administrators wrestle with how to teach character

(NEWSER) - Traditional measures of success in high school—GPAs, standardized-test scores—aren’t always good predictors of a successful future. That’s why the heads of two very different schools in New York City are searching for a way to mix character into the education equation. In a lengthy New York Times Magazine feature, Paul Tough examines each administrator’s approaches. While one has instituted a Character Point Average report card, the other wants his affluent students to experience failure on the road to success. More»

Each hour watching TV can take 22 minutes off your life

(NEWSER) - Watching TV could be as dangerous as smoking or obesity, with each hour in front of the boob tube shortening your life by 22 minutes, reports the Telegraph . For adults who watch six hours of TV a day, that works out to nearly five years of less living. Researchers used a survey of 11,247 Australians that started in 1999 and asked about TV viewing habits, then cross-referenced that data with mortality figures. More»

Supporters tired of parents turning their kids loose

(NEWSER) - Ahh, childhood: that magical time when you can be slapped with a $100 fine for playing tag on the street outside your house. At least, that’s what will happen if a certain group of Edgewater, Fla., homeowners get their way. The Persimmon Place homeowners association will vote later this month on a proposal that would ban kids from playing outside in the playground-free subdivision. Tag, skateboarding, Big Wheels, and loud toys would no longer be allowed on “common property” if the proposal is passed, WKMG reports. The proposal also states that "minor children will be under the direct control of a responsible adult at all times." More»

Academy of pediatrics ups age guidelines for car seats

(NEWSER) - Cue the choruses of, "Oh mom, do I have to?": The American Academy of Pediatrics has cracked down its carseat guidelines, reports the Washington Post , and they're likely to cause plenty of bickering. Among them:

• All children should sit in the back seat until they are 13 years old
• Children under 13 should use booster seats until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall, or big enough to fit seatbelts properly
• Infants should ride in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the seat's maximum height and weight.