Add one to the Duh Study File:

According to researchers in Oklahoma, children burn triple the number of calories if they’re playing a video game that requires moving about – such as some of the Nintendo Wii system games, than they do while sitting still and watching television.

These findings were published in the August issue of the medical journal Pediatrics.

While playing the games aren’t the same as getting outside and getting some good activity going, such as bike riding or playing tag, they may have their place in situations where children may not be able to go outside, such as when the weather is bad.

That being said though – the games must be active and likely shouldn’t be used as a replacement for real exercise.

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Image courtesy PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

A Duh Study: Active Video Games Better…

IMG: Sxc.hu

Last night the hubby and SoccerBoy decided to take it out of the box and try a game. It was great hearing them laugh, soon we were all in the room laughing and watch the two of them try to figure it out.

Today, I decided I’d try my hand at one game with SoccerBoy and lets just say as always I’m the mom that just cant’ figure it out. But it was fun and I loved seeing everyone laugh at and with me. Once the hubby came home each of us played each of the kids. It was a very good time we shared and I think even though it is a video game it has now made its spot.

Now we do not have a Wii or anything like that, we just have a PS2 and a few games. But I think I’ll look for more like this in the future. We have talked about getting the Wii because I’ve heard so many people use it for the sports and that sounds like a great way to lose weight for me. Does any of you play video games? What about a video game night? Challenge the kids, or do kids vs parents?

Post from: Blisstree

Playing Video Games With the Family

In one Michigan county teens are being sentenced for minor crimes by other teens.

Fantasy violence in video games is actually a good thing.

Need some help to keep your kids safe on the internet?

Are you worried your teen never tells you anything? Start asking them questions to get the conversation started.

And here are some questions to ask your teens about trust.

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EIGHT is the average age for a kid to get a cell phone??

There’s a new drug being tested to cure acne. Plus does milk cause acne?

Secondhand smoke may cause dementia or other cognitive disorders.

Acia berries and supplements are safe for teens and much more nutritious than soda.

VP Nominee, Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol says teens should “wait 10 years” before having a baby.

A North Carolina sex ed bill would give parents the choice between the standard abstinence only education class or a more comprehensive class about STDs and pregnancy prevention.

Kids who skip breakfast in middle school are may have sex earlier.

What Rihanna can teach us about us about domestic violence.

When we were teens we were cranking up the sound on our walkmans. Today teens are doing the same with iPods and earbuds. And they may be risking their hearing because of it.

Teens are starting to feel effects from the economic downturn.

Need help with college tuition? Here are some tips on securing some scholarships.

Some teens in New York faked a kidnapping for fun and are now facing charges.

College students have a sense of entitlement when it comes to grading.

Tween YouTube sensation, Fred, made it on iCarly. Even my teens watched this episode of iCarly.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading

It all started out innocently enough. The kids were quietly playing a quick game before dinner and I jumped on the treadmill for a much needed run (ok, brisk walk). I was only six minutes and 36 seconds in to my run walk when I heard some grumbling coming from the room. I turned up my ipod and tried to ignore them.

But at just seven minutes and 17 seconds there was full blast screaming and even a few tears. I could hear them clearly, even over my ipod. And I turn my ipod up really, really loud because the older I get the harder it is to hear.

I slammed the treadmill to off and stomped in to their room. “I cannot even express to you how ticked off I am that I had to get off the treadmill to come in here and turn off this stupid game. So that’s it. Game off. Both of you in bed. You’re on time out.” There it was, not even 5:45pm yet, and the 9-year-old and the 14-year-old were already in bed.

I jumped back on the treadmill, almost in a full run by this point since I had so much adrenaline to work off. When my run walk was over I went back in to their room. “You can both get up, but I’m declaring a video game-free zone for the rest of January. No video games until February 1st.”

Then there was some more sobbing (from the 9-year-old) and eye rolling / heavy sighs (from the 14-year-old). At least until the 14-year-old remembered February 1st is next weekend. But at least that gives me a full week of silence. Well until the next fight over who needs to clean which part of the room or vacuum the living room or whatever other thing they can think of to argue about.

These sibling squabbles are going to be the death of me.

Post from: Blisstree

Declaring a Video Game-Free Zone

So instead of staying up all night to cram for finals, the teens decided to stay up all night playing video games. We found out early last night that school was cancelled today so they made plans to spend the night at a friend’s house. There they played computer games all night long.

When I picked them up today the 16-year-old said, “I should sleep good tonight.” I asked what time he went to bed. “6am.” I’m pretty sure my eyes rolled in to the back of my head.

Then the 14-year-old said, “Yeah, I went to bed at a much more reasonable time.”

“What time was that?” I asked.

“4am.”

Yeah, ’cause 4am is sooo much earlier than 6am. If I stayed up until 4am I’d be a zombie. Oh to be young again.

Post from: Blisstree

Going To Bed At a Reasonable Time

Here are 10 tips to help kids get their homework done.

Do you know the new skills for parenting a teenage girl?

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Teen documents her war with food on YouTube.

A 13-year-old Florida boy was arrested for disturbing the classroom by passing gas.

A bus driver in Massachusetts offered high school cheerleaders $40 if they would lift up their skirts.

A teacher in Fort Lauderdale turned himself in for punching an 8-year-old student in the face.

In the UK a 13-year-old boy stabbed himself in the stomach in front of his classmates because he was upset that his girlfriend broke up with him the previous night.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading

More and more kids are medicated today.

Twinkies are the latest in 100-calorie packs.

Bullies get pleasure out of seeing others in pain. That’s disturbing.

There is yet another study showing a link between teen aggression and video games.

An Idaho teen stabbed his mother because she wouldn’t let him get on MySpace. Really!?!

Miley Cyrus and David Archuleta are performing at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

The drinking age debate continues.

Five ways to prevent diabetes in your teenager.

Researchers found a link between the amount of sleep a child gets and obesity in adulthood.

A New England Patriot cheerleader was kicked off the squad after photos of her drawing on a passed out partier were posted on Facebook. When will teens learn Facebook is not private?

Apparently adults need to remember Facebook is a public forum as well.

The National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) recognized 6 virtual worlds as best for kids; Club Penguin (a Gold winner and “Best Bang for the Buck”), Build-a-Bear, DisneyFairies.com, Moshi Monsters, Whyville (Gold winner), and Disney Pirates of the Caribbean.

Burger Kind is branching out to clothing. Is there really a market for this?

Gen Y is demanding tech in the workplace.

A young entrepreneur created InternshipIN to help college students find internships in their area using their IP address.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading

Because I am a “mean” Mom, I told him that if he didn’t find it he would have to buy a replacement – whether it was a new GBA or a Nintendo DS, but I wasn’t paying for it.

This morning my daughter was getting a shirt out of the laundry room when she spotted the missing GameBoy. How it got in there is anyone’s guess.

After thanking his sister over and over, I recommended he pay her a “finder’s fee” of $5. What do you think? Was that fair? Think of the money he just saved! And, hopefully he will learn to be a little more organized with his expensive toys now and that works for me!

This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday. For more great ideas, be sure to visit Rocks In My Dryer where this meme is hosted.

Post from: Blisstree

A Finder’s Fee for a Lost Gameboy

My son’s toy box has not been cracked open in a year.  His free time is consumed with playing hockey in the driveway, playing video games or building with Legos. Meanwhile, the Thomas the Tank Engine collection has been replaced with a love for electric trains like Lionel and MTH RailKing. Racing toy cars in the dirt has been replaced with racing cars on PS2, and playing with Transformers robots has been replaced with programming his own robot with his LEGO Mindstorms Robotic Invention 2.0.

PlayLibrary wants to know what is on our toy wish lists through a simple meme inspired by an interview of Eric Weiner, executive producer of Disney Channel’s Little Einsteins.  I choose to share the meme from the perspective of my almost 11 year old boy.

What he wants: A new joystick for his computer – so he can fly the simulator software like Dad does for real.

He must have: Something to build – Lego, K’nex, you name it, he’ll build it.

What he hates: Tripping over his little sister’s half clothed Barbies. It makes him crazy!

Savvy shopper: My son knows that when lobbying for a new toy or gadget, it is always best to do your research first. I often find scraps of paper on my desk with the name of a game or gadget he wants and all the places it can be found and the prices. And if he wants something bad enough, I may even find an envelop with the cash in it along with the note.

My pick: Legos. Legos have to the absolute best investment toy-wise you can make. As your child’s imagination and ability grow, you can keep adding to the collection, yet the early pieces will still be as useful as the new ones. Legos are fun for girls or boys (my daughter built a gymnastics school out of Legos a few weeks ago) and kids of all ages. There is a bucket of Legos at my Mother’s house from when we were kids – they are just as good now as when they were new – 30+ years ago.

Next best thing: Books, books and more books.  My son reads constantly. His recent reads include The Right Stuff, The Never War (Pendragon Series #3) and the Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6).

What’s on the toy wish list at your house? How has that list changed over the years?  

Post from: Blisstree

The Evolution of a Boy’s Taste in Toys