Need more proof that TV’s bad for your kids? Look no further.

In a new study, Ohio scientists have compared mother and child communication while watching TV to reading books or playing with toys, to show the impact of TV on child development.

The results indicated that watching TV leads to less interaction between parents and children, and in turn, negatively impacts a child’s literacy and language skills.

One of the main problem lies, the researchers said, in how parents communicate with their children while the kids are engaged with TV, books, or toys.

By describing objects or new words and images, or by prompting conversation through questions, maternal responsiveness can help a child engage with an activity. It can also provide positive feedback or encouragement to a child.

According to the study, mothers who co-read books communicated significantly more with their children than mothers watching TV. Maternal communication was higher among children who read books than those who played toys, but not significantly so.

In addition, when reading a book with their children, parents used a more active communication style, and introduced children to words they may not hear in every day speech, thereby improving their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. In contrast, watching TV consisted of significantly fewer descriptions and positive responses.

“When a mother and child are focusing on the same object, be that a book, toy or TV show, the mother’s response can have an important impact on their child’s understanding and self perception,” said study researcher Amy Nathanson.

“We would encourage parents to regularly substitute TV for other forms of entertainment to ensure frequent and positive interaction with their child,” Nathanson concluded.

The study was published in Human Communication Research.

Here in America, we have a serious problem.

It’s called obesity, and it’s killing millions of people every year.  The fact is, much of our own diet, the food we eat to keep ourselves alive, is slowly killing us at the same time.  Thanks to the consumption of excess meat, dairy and oils, we’re putting ourselves at greater risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

In his book, Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health, Gene Stone compiles statements from number of doctors, chefs and nutrition experts for  insight into the health benefits of a plant-based diet, which may reduce people’s risks of cancer and other diseases.  At the very least, it may help in dropping a few pounds.

The book also contains healthy recipes that won’t make you feel like you’re eating rabbit food.  I especially can’t wait to try the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (quinoa is especially filling!) or the MexiCali Burritos.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is looking to improve their health and their waistline.  However, as always, consult your doctor before starting any diets.

If you have children in kindergarten through 5th grade, you likely received a summer reading list with the last report card of the year. If you’re like most parents, you tossed it aside as you packed your bags for the beach or the first day of summer camp and thought “We have plenty of time for that!”

Although September seems far away, it is important to dig that list out and help your child get started on required reading, as well as checking out the suggested titles for his or her grade. The purpose of summer reading in the elementary school years is to maintain your child’s reading skills, such as decoding words, comprehension of text, and making inferences or predictions about the text. It is also meant to foster a love of reading that educators know is crucial for success in school.

You don’t have to be a reading specialist to address common reading skills your child needs to maintain over the summer. For example, to practice decoding words, ask your child “What sound does this letter make?” Help him sound out unfamiliar words. You can check for comprehension after reading by asking “Wh” questions such as “Where did the main character live?” or “Who is the main character’s friend?” This ensures they retained the main details of the story.

You can also work on making inferences about the story by asking questions not directly answered in the text. For example, “How do you think he was feeling after he had a fight with his friend?” guides your child to use clues from the story as well as his own experiences to draw a logical conclusion. Remember to have fun! Summer reading is an enjoyable way to support your child’s academic and social growth while away from the classroom.

As the summer days pass by, it gets harder to maintain a schedule with your families enjoying some much-needed down time. A break from the stress of your busy school-year schedules is necessary, but too much time without exercising the brain can be detrimental to your child’s academic health.

This is why it is important to attend to your child’s summer reading list starting now. Most middle and high schools choose one or two required readings and allow for some independence with a suggested reading list. This is a great opportunity for your child to get introduced to a new author or genre he or she may not have known before. In addition to developing a love of reading, children in these grades will likely be tested on material read or be expected to write a response to the text.

You can help your child maintain information about the stories by giving her a journal in which to take notes, reading the book with her, and having weekly discussions with her to ensure she comprehends the material. You may also want to celebrate the completion of books with a special reward, such as a little extra money to spend back-to-school shopping or a family movie night. However you do it, supporting your middle school or high school age child in their summer reading will ensure her school year gets off to a great start.