Our curated list of kid-related news for July 1, 2016.
- By
- Parker Barry
- 1. July 4: Celebrate & learn. U.S. kids know this weekend is a time for fireworks and celebration, but they might not know what all the fuss is really about. Looking for a cheat sheet on explaining the holiday to kids? Time for Kids and TODAY both have great resources for helping kids learn all about Independence Day in a fun way. Also check out 4th of July Games from Real Simple and Easy 4th of July Outfits from ABC News to really get into the spirit.
2. How exercise helps your kid’s brain. Researchers from the U.S., Europe and Canada offer advice on giving kids a brain boost: Get them moving! The group of 24 researchers reached this recommendation after reviewing studies of the benefits of exercise for kids 6 to 18 years old. Exercise has the ability to boost “brain function, cognition and scholastic performance,” they report. (Exercise Boosts Kids’ Brainpower, Experts Say.)
- 3. Stressed out kids? Here are tips to help them manage it. Young kids can feel stress. They may not have a word for it, but they do know it doesn’t feel good. Psychotherapist and parenting educator Katie Hurley often speaks with parents whose main goal is to take away their kids’ stress. She says that shielding them from the natural things that they must learn to cope with isn’t the answer; instead it’s important to teach your kid tactics to use to stay calm in stressful situations. (You can’t protect your kids from stress. But here are ways to teach them to cope.)
- 4. Disney Princesses may influence kids’ behavior — boy or girl. A recent study “found that for both boys and girls, higher princess involvement … over the course of a year was associated with higher levels of female gender-stereotypical behavior at the end of the study.” They saw these effects “potentially problematic” for young girls, encouraging behavior like avoiding risks and a focus on outwardly appearance, but positive for boys in the long term. (Disney Princesses Do Change Girls — and Boys, Too.)
- 5. Can parents’ expectations for their kid be too high? It’s natural for parents to want to push their kids toward success. You want the best for your kids, so you help them along the way. But a study done by the National University of Singapore found that there’s a point where too much help may have a negative effect on kids. Researchers found that kids of intrusive parents often ended up being overly critical of themselves. They suggest creating a learning environment where kids know they can make mistakes and helping them learn from their mistakes instead of reprimanding kids for them. (Your perfectionist parenting style may be detrimental to your child.)
