Filed under: Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Development, In the news, Education

We all know that teenagers are stupid. Rather, they act stupid. Having been teens ourselves and now being adult enough to be able to reflect back, most of us agree that at one time or another, most teens are, well, dumb. Pregnancy pacts, virginity rings and Marilyn Manson obsessions aside, now it turns out that sentiment might actually be true! According to a new study, kids are getting less smart, mainly due to watching too much television and playing too many video games. Hmm. This sounds familiar. I feel like I heard the same thing in the early 80's when I was a kid with a pocketful of quarters and a Pac Man machine (OK, fine, it was Ms. Pac Man) in front of me. But, I digress.

The study reviewed test scores of 800 thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds and compared them with similar tests of teens from 1976, a generation ago. The results? In one test, only one in ten of the current teens tested with top scores, down from one in four twenty years ago. In another, only one in twenty reached the top score compared to one in five from the 1976 batch. Professor Michael Shayer, who lead the study, believes the educational focus on testing (rather than learning) is at least partially to blame. Focusing on testing leaves little time for teaching development skills such as those required in the tests that were part of the study.

Primarily, however, Shayer believes that television and video games are responsible for the decline. Participating in these "non" activities leads to a lack of being involved in other things such as playing with gadgets and tools which develop higher level thinking. The UK education system has responded that measures were being taken to "ease the burden" of testing. According to the article in the Mail Online, the UK government had also scrapped the SATs for fourteen-year-olds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Teens & tweens, Celeb kids, Celeb parenting

Your 15-year-old daughter falls for 20-year-old underwear model. Do you:

a) Lose sleep at night.
b) Hope that you've raised her well, but keep a close eye on their activities.
c) Wonder why in the world the chastity belt went out of style.
d) Invite the young man to live with you.

If you were Billy Ray Cyrus, you'd choose D, or maybe even all of the above. A source alleges that daughter Miley Cyrus's new beau, Justin Gaston, is living with the family in their California home. "Billy wasn't born yesterday," says the source, "He figures the safest path to take is to keep Miley and Justin on a short leash -- and under the same roof."

Continue reading Billy Ray Cyrus lets Miley's boyfriend move in

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: In the news, Education

Welcome to Red Mom Blue Mom, ParentDish's special coverage of the 2008 Presidential election. Each Tuesday through November 4, columnists Rachel Campos-Duffy (Red Mom) and Ada Calhoun (Blue Mom) will take on issues relevant to parents on both sides of the aisle. You can find past Red Mom/Blue Mom posts here.

Red Mom: Making a choice about schools
By Rachel Campos-Duffy

Even some of Barack Obama's biggest fans concede that the press has gone pretty easy on him. Consider the famous US Magazine cover of an adorable would-be first couple under the caption, "Why Barack Loves Her" contrasted with the cover and caption the Palin's received, "Babies, Lies and Scandal."

Of all the things Barack gets a free pass on, nothing gets my goat more than education, a topic of considerable importance to me as a parent and one he touts as his forte. Quite simply, when it comes to education policy, Barack and Michelle Obama are hypocrites!

While Barack and Michelle champion public schools (Michelle waxes endlessly in speeches about her own public education), they fail to mention that their own daughters attend the University of Chicago's Lab School, one of our nation's most exclusive prep schools that costs some $20,000 a year in tuition per child. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, Chicago's Lab School is among the top five feeder institutions for our nation's most elite universities. To be fair, the Obama girls began attending while Michelle was a University of Chicago employee and were therefore eligible for a tuition break.

Though Michelle no longer works there, the Obama's cite the proximity of this elite institution to their home as the reason they continue to attend. I get that, but I think there's more to it. Conspicuously absent from the Obamas's hard-knocks, they're-just-like-us video biographies during the Democratic convention were Michelle and Barack's impeccably Ivy League credentials. Presumably, they expect nothing less for Malia and Sasha.

Well, don't we all!

Michelle and Barack are opposed to school choice programs, also known as tuition vouchers, which would allow middle class and poor parents to also have choice when it comes to their children's educations. It is the height of hypocrisy for the Obama's to stand in the way of other families trying, as they do, to give their kids the very best education they can.

Interestingly, despite private school options in Wasilla, the Palins chose public school for their own children. And while it's not surprising that the very wealthy McCain family sent their kids to private schools, at least John McCain, who is a proponent of school choice, wants to help other parents have the same opportunities when it comes to their children's education.

So why do Michelle and Barack stand in the way of an innovative program that would give poor minority parents the power and choice that rich and privileged people like them enjoy? A big part of the reason is teachers unions, who are threatened by the potential exodus of students (and money) to private institutions. Too bad Obama doesn't have the audacity to stand up to that powerful lobby so that all families can hope to give their child the very best education they can. Now that would be change I could believe in.


Blue Mom: What happened to family values?
By Ada Calhoun

For years, the Republican party has promoted itself as two things: fiscally conservative and the sole defender of "family values."

Talk about irony. As Representative Steny Hoyer has pointed out, "George W. Bush inherited a projected 10-year budget surplus of $5.6 trillion, which he proceeded to turn into a projected deficit of more than $4 trillion." He will leave office with the country in the direst financial straits we've been in since the Great Depression.

John McCain vows to continue many of Bush's failed policies, including the continuance of huge tax breaks for the very rich at the expense of our children's and grandchildren's future. In a broad policy study compiled by the Brookings Institution, it is clear that Obama is about 100% more concerned with the well-being America's children than Arizona's senior senator. He voted yes for reauthorization of the State Children's Health Program in 2007; McCain voted no. Obama pledges to invest millions to stimulate and help fund "zero to five programs;" McCain counters, "There is no shortage of federal programs at early child care and preschool." Maybe it seems like that when your seven children from two marriages are all enrolled in the best private schools. (McCain donated more than $500,000 to his kids' top-shelf education between 2001 and 2006, according to Harpers.org. "McCain apparently received major tax deductions for supporting elite schools attended by his children." But those of us -- most of us -- who make do with public schools know that there an appalling shortage of excellence. Free or reasonably-priced quality preschool is almost impossible to find in many parts of the country.

Sarah Palin's family bills itself as "Joe Sixpack," but it's been churning out one maverick-y scandal after another. In her attempts to punish her ex-brother-in-law, Palin engaged in what the recent report called a breach of the state's ethics law. Her eldest daughter is an unmarried pregnant high-school dropout. As suggested in a recent profile in the New York Times, Palin was perhaps pregnant when she eloped, too. And yet, she maintains a more socially conservative stance than even George W. Bush.

How can the McCain-Palin ticket still be trying to claim the moral high ground?

Meanwhile, Joe Biden takes the train home every night so he can be with his family. He raised his two sons after his wife and daughter died in a car wreck, and eventually found a woman who would be a good stepmother to his children and married her. They have been together for more than 30 years.

Last week, Barack Obama suspended his campaign not to stage a failed last-ditch bid to portray himself as a non-partisan economic savior, but to pay a humble, private visit to his dying grandmother.

Together, the Obamas have decided the best thing for their family and country is to put forward Barack's pro-family policies and also -- so refreshingly! -- their family's good example. How wonderful would it be to fill the White House with the laughter of the confident, lovely Obama girls rather than the tight couture grimace of Cindy McCain or, heaven forbid, the smug hypocrisy soap operatic-lifestyle of the Palins.

View Poll

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Pregnancy & birth, Bump watch, Life & style, Celeb parenting, That's entertainment

Rocker Dave Grohl, currently of the Foo Fighters outfit (say it with me now: FOO!) and former Nirvana drummer, is expecting his second child. Grohl and wife Jordyn announced the news Sunday.

Lead singer Grohl and wife Blum already have one child, a daughter, Violet Maye, who was born in 2006. She's pretty darned cute from what little we've seen of her--Dave wisely keeps her pretty under wraps.

No word yet on the due date or the sex of the baby to be. I guess this means Dave is officially off the market now. He was so hot as the shirtless drummer from Nirvana when I was in high school, but I guess that torch I have going for him should probably be put out--his wife is sorta hot.

Good luck, though, Dave, and may the foo be with you!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

In the fall of 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission created the Early Warning System to alert parents and caregivers of unsafe cribs. Since that time, the agency has conducted five crib recalls due to hardware that was broken or missing or otherwise failed to function properly.

While the Early Warning System has been deemed a success in preventing many deaths and injuries, CPSC is now looking at ways to strengthen crib performance requirements to deal with the problems that these recalls have brought to light. To that end, they are now considering an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to "examine and and assess potential design and durability issues and possible mandatory performance requirements to prevent future entrapments and strangulations to children. If approved, the ANPR will seek input and information about hardware systems, other hardware issues, assembly and instructional problems and wood quality/strength issues for cribs with both stationary and drop side construction."

That is all rather jargony, but it sounds to me like they are trying to say that an updated standard for crib safety is in order. In the meantime, CPSC would like to remind all parents and caregivers of the following crib safety tips:

• Parents should not use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts.
• Hardware should be inspected from time to time and tightened to keep the crib sturdy.
• When using a drop side crib parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly on its track.
• Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child.
• Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer approved hardware or with tape, wire or rope.
• Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.

As always, you can report a dangerous product or a product-related injury by calling CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or by visiting their Website.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Life & style, In the news

In the first two weeks of October, the highest paid member of the McCain campaign staff wasn't a pollster, or a strategiest. It wasn't a bodyguard or a trusted campaign aid. The highest paid member of the McCain team was Sarah Palin's makeup artist.

Amy Strozzi, who was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the reality show "So You Think You Can Dance?" has been traveling with the Governor as she campaigns for the White House. Records released this week show that she was paid $22,800 for the first half of October. A hairstylist, Angela Lew, was paid $10,000 for the same period.

Critics claim that Palin's recent cosmetic indulgences -- $150,000 worth of new clothes, personal stylists -- are detracting from her Hocky Mom image. But is it possible that America's Hocky Moms see in Sarah Palin what they aspire to themselves?

What do you think -- is this a case of a campaign gone awry, or a mom getting some well-deserved pampering?

View Poll

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Toddlers, Fun & activities, Celeb kids, Celeb parenting

One of the things I was most excited about when we decided to leave Boise and move east was the chance to live close to all the wonderful culture that New York City has to offer. Boise, Idaho is a beautiful place, but not the most happening town in the world. But living just a short train ride from the Big Apple, I imagined we would visit museums, see Broadway shows and soak up the diversity that is NYC. And we do, every chance we get.

Our very first outing in the city involved a trip to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway. Tickets were expensive (we paid $130 each for the cheap seats), so just being there was a special treat for all of us. We loved the show, except for the part where the little princess in front of us talked and sang throughout the entire performance. She looked to be about two-years-old and her mother looked to be oblivious as her child stood in her seat, clapped her hands and asked a million questions using her outside voice.

That a two-year-old would have a good time at a Broadway show is not surprising. But should a child who is too young to understand theater etiquette even be there? Tom Cruise thinks so. Little Suri Cruise has seen Hairspray on Broadway twice now. And from the sounds of it, her behavior wasn't much more considerate than the child who sat in front of us.

Tom and his sister Cass accompanied 2-year-old Suri to last Friday's performance and according to witnesses, Suri spent much of the time standing in her seat. Tom apparently tried to gently coax her back onto her bottom, but without much success. For the Cruise's, shelling out hundreds of dollars for a few hours of entertainment is no big deal. But I wonder if those who sat behind them felt like they got their money's worth. Would you take a two-year-old to a Broadway show? And then allow her to stand in her seat during the performance?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Media, Resources

Trying to keep up with the Internet can be exhausting -- all those blogs to read and news stories to process! That's why we love Twitter so much -- because all the pieces of the 'net are gathered together in wee little 140 character updates.

Now Twitter makes it even easier to stay on top of what's new at ParentDish -- you can follow us via your Twitter feed and see what we're dishing about. Updates are posted hourly, and will appear with your other Twitter updates; each update includes a link to a post, so you can click through and read the really interesting ones (which, really, is ALL of them, right?). And you can have them sent to your mobile phone, so you can stay in touch all day long.

Because at ParentDish, we're all about good parenting on the go.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Just for moms, Teens & tweens, Just for dads, Health & safety, In the news, Education, Gadgets & tech

When officials in the Houston, Mississippi School District tell students to leave their cell phones at home, they mean it. The Houston Board of Education Trustees has drafted a new policy that prohibits students from having a cell phone on campus during school hours. If they are caught with one, the device will be confiscated and a note will be sent home to parents. In order to get the phone back, a $25 fee must be paid.

The new policy, which is scheduled to go into effect on November 17, replaces the current policy which allows students to bring cell phones to school but prohibits their use during school hours. One of the Board members who voted against the policy says he has questions about how students will be able to contact parents to pick them up following after-school activities or tutorials.

Board attorney James M. Hood says that from a legal standpoint, the ban is a good idea. His concern is with inappropriate use of phones on campus -- specifically, using the cell phone as a camera. "You are looking at liability issues with photographs taken that violate privacy and are published," Board attorney James M. Hood said. See the 15-year-old girl in at Licking Valley High School in Ohio for an example of that.

If I had a high-schooler in that district, I would not be happy with the new policy. I know that teens use cell phones mostly to communicate with their friends, but parents use them to communicate with their children. If kids are forced to leave the cell phone home each morning, parents will have no way of contacting them before or after school should they need or want to. I know we all managed before cell phones came along, but that connection gives a peace of mind that my parents never had and surely would have enjoyed.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Image of the Day

We think this shot is a perfectly bright and colorful way to start the week. Thanks to simply hypnotizn for this addition to our Flickr pool.

If you'd like your own picture featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr Pool - We'll highlight an image every day. Remember: we're on the lookout for shots with interesting backgrounds, cool angles, or original composition. Be sure to read the intro on our main Flickr page for more information and limit your uploading to 5 photos per day.

Have a particularly great Halloween photo to share? We're assembling a reader gallery of Cute Costumed Kids -- share your photos in our Flickr pool and check AOL Living's new Holiday Hub starting October 17 to see the full package!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the Full Story Here