Survey Reveals Gaming the Medium of Choice Parents Can Use Games to Foster Kids' Development

(MS) -- Thanks to rapid and seemingly nonstop advancements in technology, individuals today are inundated with more stimulation than ever before. Television, the Internet, video games, and a host of other stimuli provide a slew of daily entertainment activities which adults and children alike have at their constant disposal.

Of those ever-present mediums, none is more preferred than console video gaming among those age 34 and younger. So says a survey from The Harrison Group., which used a broad comparison of 17 different entertainment activities, including watching television, surfing the Internet, attending live sporting events, and reading, to determine the most preferred entertainment outlet overall with respect to participation frequency.

While the results likely do not surprise the nation's parents, they more than likely do cause some concern, as many parents worry their children rely too much on video games for entertainment. Recognizing those concerns, Activision has teamed with Dr. Cheryl Olson, co-director for the Center for Mental Health and Media, to produce a series of seven videos that provide information on how parents and teachers can optimize children's use of games and key issues parents face with respect to children or adolescents and video games.

* Encourage games that get kids off the couch. Upon hearing that kids prefer video gaming over any other medium, parents no doubt envision a nation of young, out-of-shape couch potatoes idling away their time without ever exercising. However, today's most popular games are unlike those of years past. Today's most popular games often mandate that kids get off the sofa, be it to dance, strum away on their favorite instrument or mimic sports moves such as bowling, skateboarding or tennis.

What's more, the survey found that boys who played realistic sports video games, including basketball, football and skateboarding, spent significantly more time on real-world exercise than boys who did not play those games. In fact, some boys even noted the games indirectly encouraged them to participate in the very activities the games mimicked.

"Like in basketball," responded one survey participant. "If you see them do a fancy crossover in the video game, you want to learn how to do the same thing."

* Don't overlook the intellectual stimulation and other benefits games can provide. Another common concern many parents have about video games is that they can turn kids' brains into something that bears a close resemblance to pudding. However, children who excel at video games often must employ strategy and other intellectual processes to be successful, whereas television often does a child's thinking for him.

Another benefit not to be overlooked is the decreased exposure to advertising. When watching television, children are typically deluged with ads promoting unhealthy foods that can trigger overeating and lead to weight gain. However, video games require much more interaction than simply watching television, kids are far less likely to snack while playing.

* Manage kids' video game time. Overinvolvement in any one activity can disrupt a child's development. And video games are no exception. In fact, the survey found that kids spend approximately 19 percent of their entertainment time playing video games. However, because parents might not have grown up playing video games, it is common to apply different standards to gaming than other activities. For example, a child who plays basketball or practices the piano for two hours per day might be seen as dedicated, whereas a child who plays video games two hours per day might be seen as overindulging. In general, a child who plays video games a lot will likely develop normally so long as there is still ample time spent on other activities, such as getting together with friends or participating in team sports.

Dr. Olson also recommends setting concrete standards, such as limiting gaming to 30 minutes on school nights or not allowing gaming until homework is completed. In addition, Dr. Olson notes the importance of where consoles are located in the house.

"If possible, keep game consoles and computers out of your child's bedroom," says Olson. "An alternative is to put a basket on the kitchen counter, and have the kids deposit their game controllers, computer mice or cell phones in the basket when they go to bed each night."

* Purchase games that encourage interaction with other gamers. No medium, especially video games, has proven immune to the latest technological advancements in communications. Thanks to those advancements, today's gamers are far less isolated than gamers of years past. Many game consoles can now connect to the Internet, enabling kids to play their friends online while encouraging and fostering social interaction in the process.

In spite of those games, Dr. Olson warns that children who play by themselves, never playing online or face-to-face with other gamers, might require some parental intervention. Be it purchasing games that require interaction with others or speaking to a pediatrician or mental health professional, parents should take steps to ensure their kids are using their gaming time to foster social interaction and not stifle it.

The first of Dr. Olsons's videos are available online at www.activision.com. The full series will be made available throughout the holiday season.

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Money Management Tips for Parents and Kids

Thanks in large part to the recession, more and more kids are asking their parents about money. Because the economy has made an impact in nearly every aspect of daily life, many kids are curious as to what's going on with money.

That curiosity has created a great avenue for parents to teach kids valuable lessons about money. The following tips can help parents instill a sense of financial responsibility in their children while also helping them better understand the economy.

* Give kids an allowance. Many parents are on the fence about giving kids an allowance. However, an allowance can be a good first step toward instilling responsible money management in children. Pay allowances on a fixed schedule, such as every Friday afternoon, and make sure kids have a list of responsibilities they must fulfill each week before getting their allowance. In general, it's hard for kids to learn about money if they don't have any.

* Give kids some initial leeway. Kids are kids, and they're going to make mistakes when it comes to money management. In fact, most kids who receive their allowance on Friday afternoon will find themselves penniless by Friday night. When first giving kids an allowance, give them some initial leeway and allow them to make mistakes. They're more likely to learn from their own mistakes than simply being told how to avoid mistakes. As time progresses, help kids learn from their mistakes if they're still making them.

* Let kids pay or contribute to a monthly bill. Another way to instill financial responsibility in kids is to give them a monthly financial responsibility, such as paying or contributing to one of the monthly household bills. While this might be too much for younger kids to handle, high school kids with part-time jobs should be able to contribute each month. Even if parents provide the money to pay the bills, allow kids a month or two to pay the bills so they can see and experience realistic money management each month.

* Help kids create a budget. Budgeting is a money management tool many adults fail to grasp, so teaching kids how to budget can be an especially valuable life lesson. Again, this is a lesson best taught to high school kids, who have their own income but need help managing it. Parents can teach kids that budgeting involves determining needs and wants, and how handling a budget properly can actually afford them more finanical freedom in the long run.

* Take kids food shopping. Bringing kids along to the grocery store can also provide a valuable avenue to teach kids money management. This can be especially valuable to kids about to leave for college, as they'll soon be responsible for feeding themselves. By taking them to the grocery store, kids can see how cooking for yourself is a much more affordable option than routinely dining out, which in turn frees up money for other financial endeavors.

* Encourage older kids to open a checking account. A checking account can also be an effective way to teach older kids about money management. Teach kids how to balance a checkbook, and open a joint checking account with your children so you can periodically check in and see how your kids are spending their money. When receiving a monthly statement, go over it with your kids and point out both the positive and negative spending trends kids exhibit.

CAPTION: Parents can instill valuable money management lessons in children before they pack up and head off for college.

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Vaccination, Disinfectants Important This Flu Season

(MS) -- By Dra. Aliza Lifshitz, Internist, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles

Perhaps no issue has made more headlines this year than the flu. At the core of those headlines is the 2009 H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of deaths have already been associated with the 2009 H1N1 virus, and the coming months figure to prove even more deadly as flu season approaches.

What's most troubling about the coming flu season, particularly for the nation's large Hispanic population, are the warnings that the season could prove to be the worst yet. According to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the coming flu season could pose a serious health threat. For Hispanics, that's especially concerning, as a recent Associated Press report noted Hispanics are four times more likely to be hospitalized as a result of the 2009 H1N1 virus. Despite that, a September 2009 poll conducted by Garcia Research indicates that 56 percent of Hispanic adults said they were "not concerned" about the flu. In addition, fewer than 4 in 10 indicated that they were "very likely" to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu.

Why Get a Flu Shot?

The flu is highly contagious, easily spreading from person to person, and can be especially harmful to children. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the "single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year." The flu vaccine can prevent influenza among 70 to 90 percent of healthy adults by protecting against common types of flu viruses that are in circulation.

Who Needs a Flu Shot?

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can and should get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that all children ages 6 months to 18 years be vaccinated. In addition, household caregivers -- including moms, dads, grandparents, nannies, and other child care providers -- should get vaccinated.

When Should You Get Vaccinated?

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or October before flu season peaks, but the flu shot can protect you even if you get vaccinated late in the flu season into December, January and beyond. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, flu activity typically peaks in January or later.

How Can Exposure

to the Flu Be Reduced?

In addition to getting vaccinated, there are myriad ways individuals can help prevent exposure to the flu virus.

* Sing and Scrub. Make sure kids wash their hands often. They should wash frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice).

* Cough and sneeze into elbows, not hands. If they don't have a tissue, teach kids to cough and sneeze into the inside of their elbows. Coughing into hands is more likely to spread bacteria and viruses through touch.

* Disinfect Hot Spots. Kids and adults alike can touch many surfaces in a short period of time. To reduce risk of spreading the flu virus, disinfect hard surfaces as directed using an EPA registered product that is effective against the influenza A virus, such as Clorox(R) Clean-Up(R) Cleaner with Bleach and Clorox(R) Disinfecting Wipes, on commonly touched surfaces. Plastic children's toys, doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, remote controls, and faucets can all be sources of the influenza virus, and an individual can still get infected 2-8 hours after the virus was initially deposited on the surface. So be sure to make disinfecting such areas a part of your daily household routine.

* Continue living a healthy lifestyle. Eating right, exercising and getting plenty of sleep help boost the body's ability to fight the effects of the flu viruses.

For more information about helping to protect yourself and your family during flu season, visit www.VidaySalud.com, www.cdc.gov/flu, www.clorox.com, www.Cloroxenespanol.com, or www.cdc.gov/flu/espanol.

technorati tags: vaccination disinfectants flu season h1n1 swine flu seasonal flu

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