Problem solving for the modern parent Looking for answers? Try these easy solutions to the three most important issues facing today's moms and dads. For the modern mother and father facing a world rampant with obesity epidemics,education deficiencies and electronic distractions, it's evermore frustrating that kids don't come with a handbook. What exactly should kids be eating? What's the best way to you give your kids a head start in book smarts? And how muchTV is too muchTV? Navigating the murky parental waters is tough,but all you need to become a great parent- and to raise a great kid- is a little bit of information and a good game plan.As for the answers to those lingering questions, just keep reading… 1. Help children earn an 'A' in school lunches Kids' lifelong eating habits can chart the course of good health when parents help make healthy food choices,especially when it comes to school lunch. Most of that work can be done from your own kitchen, says dietitianTanya Zuckerbrot,author of"The F-Factor Diet" (Putnam,2006). "Set a good example at home,"Zuckerbrot says."Children learn from their parents' habits at home.Therefore,you need to be aware of the foods you regularly serve, the way you treat snacking and you overall attitude toward food." One good habit to implement is teaching your children the importance of a good breakfast. "If your children are starving when lunch rolls around, they'll inevitably eat more than they should or really need,"she says."If they start off with a good breakfast, they're more likely to eat the right portions in the cafeteria." When it comes to their lunch,make it healthy. If they tell you they are missing the pizza being served at lunch,encourage them to make their own version.Zuckerbrot says use a whole-wheat pita with tomato sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top.Other healthy choices include making a turkey pinwheel sandwich using flatbread instead of regular white bread.Be sure to add a fruit or vegetable,and a healthy drink (water or low-fat milk) to round out the meal. However,don't entirely cut out school lunches. "Allow them to choose one school lunch a week,whatever it may be- pizza, roast-beef sandwich or chicken nuggets," she says. Be sure to teach them about condiments, too, so when they choose a not-sohealthy lunch, they can avoid packing on extra calories and fat. Pamela Gould,co-author of"Feeding the Kids"(Mancala Publishing,2007), says, "If you know your children's lunch selections aren't very healthy, send along a nutrient packed supplement, such as a piece of fruit,a baggie full of baby carrots,or other vegetables." Take time to review the lunch menu together,and talk to your children about healthy choices they can make.Terra Wellington,a wellness and lifestyle expert in Burbank,Calif., recommends doing this at dinnertime, so you can point out on the dinner plate what are proteins,breads and grains and vegetables. "If you've presented a healthy meal for dinner,you can use that as an example of what your children should be looking for when it comes to lunchtime,"she says."In fact, studies show that if you and your family enjoy healthy meals at home, then that positive association with good food will translate into making better choices outside the home." 2. How to get from Baby to Einstein Baby Einstein,Brainy Baby,Galloping Minds- the children's educational-video market is awash with colorful,pricey multimedia products and packaged"smart toys"that claim to boost your child's cognitive development from the moment it leaves the womb.However, recent studies suggest that not only are these claims false,but, in fact,parking your toddler in front of these popular DVDs and videos can actually lead to decreased language ability and a smaller vocabulary in children age 6 to 18 months old. "I think they're dreadful,"says Dr. Jane Healy,an educational psychologist and author of"Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds- andWhatWe Can DoAbout It" (Simon & Schuster,1999)."There is absolutely no evidence that these products work.Rather than brain building, these products are brain-eroding.They keep kids occupied,but the child is then taken away from occupying itself, taken away from independent thinking and learning how to self-motivate. Just putting the word'brain' or 'Einstein'on a package doesn't mean it will do anything for your child." So then, if you care more about your child's relationship with learning than about Oscar-worthy animation,here is some expert advice on what you, the parent, can do to boost your baby's brainpower- no remote control necessary: 1.Sit down with your child to play, interact and talk It may sound simple,but with the stress of everyday life sometimes parents forget that their children are watching them, listening to them and learning by example. "[Videos] may be entertaining but they are not educational,"says Dr.Ari Brown,a member of theAmericanAcademy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media,Elk GroveVillage, Ill."Studies show that children under 2 years of age do not understand the content or context of a televised program.But, if the same information is presented by a live person,an older infant or toddler will 'get it'and learn from it." "Be with your child,"Healy says."Watch your children and respond directly to them.Your child's brain is brilliant. It knows what it needs and will seek it out if you allow it the opportunity." 2.Reading on a daily basis, starting by age 2 months. Reading with your child,even at a very young age,aids in their comprehension, critical thinking and understanding of the function of language."Creating a lifestyle of learning starts in infancy,"says Brown, author of"Baby 411"(Windsor Peak Press, 2003)."If reading/looking at books, for example, is just a routine part of a child's young life, it will stick with him.The same actually goes for a diet heavy in television - but do you want that to be routine, too?" By reading to your child,more of the focus is on language,providing your child with the building blocks- words- that will allow them the ability to express a need,ask a question, settle problems, write, read and more. 3.Keep unnecessary stimulation to a reasonable level. Keep in mind that it's not just kid-targeted videos and programs that can be disruptive to your child's learning process: Sometimes"SportsCenter"or"Ugly Betty" can be the culprit. "Don't turn the television on to watch your own shows while your child is around,"Brown says."Background television is distracting for a child's inner voice that they use to concentrate,not to mention something that distracts you from paying attention to your child." 4.Make the most of teaching moments. It is a parent's responsibility to provide materials,experiences and opportunities that the child can choose from,as if select ing from options in a cafeteria,Healy says. The parent can then physically and verbally expand on that experience to increase their child's understanding. "If you are stacking blocks,"Brown says,"count how many you can put on top of each other. If you are at the grocery store, give the vocabulary word for each item you put in the cart." At the same time,Brown says, it also is highly beneficial to give your child independent play time starting as early as 4 months of age."Learning by problem solving independently is powerful stuff," she says. 5. Most importantly, have fun with your child. "There is too much stress and pressure on children today to be like little adults,"Healy says."Life doesn't always have to be a lesson.Have fun together, laugh together, enjoy life - this something the rest of the world is not always going to be able to teach them." 3. Rein in the game Parents frantic to find an in-demand NintendoWii are well aware of the formidable challenge ahead.As arduous as locating this must-have item might be, however, experts warn the real difficulty might begin once the video games enter the home.As more scientists discover bad behavioral ramifications from continual game play, some health professionals believe that striking out in your quest to purchase a console might be the biggest gift of all. "If you're concerned it is going to be difficult to control how much your child is playing, then one recommendation would be not to tempt them," says Dr. Eric Storch, assistant professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the University of Florida in Gainesville."Don't purchase one of these systems." Storch believes casual gaming can be an adequate outlet for kids looking to problem solve and escape the daily grind, but relentless hours in front of theTV, controller in hand, begin to impede social development by isolating kids from their peers. "Social interactions teach you how to deal with other people, as well as what's appropriate and what's not," Storch says. "You learn how to handle situations. Social interaction also is one way of coping with stress and receiving emotional support." Without this support, he believes a child faces setbacks in the long run regarding how the rules of society work, possibly affecting future workplace behaviors. He also feels that excessive play allows a sedentary cycle to become reinforced, which can factor into childhood obesity, further impeding a child's social confidence.And while theWii uses a wand controller that allows for some physical movement, Storch says it's no replacement for playing soccer or dancing with friends. "Children inAmerica are definitely less active," says Dr. ElizabethVandewater, an assistant professor of human development and family sciences at the University ofTexas inAustin.The question is whether [TV, computers and video games] are to blame."While most parents have an understanding of how video game ratings can help to evaluate what is appropriate for their child,Vandewater says there is no system in place to accurately gauge the educational value, even for those games and products claiming to be educational fare."Parents need to know they are being marketed to," says Vandewater,who also serves as director of the Center for Research on Interactive Technology,Television and Children at the University ofTexas. Storch doesn't want to play the scrooge - he acknowledges that all families have their own philosophy about video-game habits - but he wants parents to establish limits on play time, as well as to remove the temptation if necessary by putting the controllers away. Swipe-card systems,which easily are connected toTV sets, allow parents to set a programmed amount of time for each child to play games or watchTV. Kids run their cards through like a debit card, and once time expires, the system shuts down.Much like the old-fashioned allowance,which taught kids how to manage their money, this system nurtures time-management skills and creates an opportunity for the entire family to evaluate their free-time habits. The amount of time allowed should be a parent's decision, but experts say it's important that the whole family be included in the discussion.Regardless of the measures you take,make sure that kids do their homework before beginning play, as well as spend adequate time outdoors with friends. "There are certainly some positives to [playing video games]," Storch says. "For many kids it's really enjoyable.But moderation is the key." © CTW Features