FUTURE KIDS MAG

PRETTY PEACE: AN eBOOK THAT EMPOWERS KIDS

2010-02-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

A new ebook, entitled "Pretty Peace," has just been released by Poets Mobile, and it is not the run of the mill children's fare. From the creator of the award winning PBS series, Liberty's Kids, Pretty Peace lets kids in on a little secret - the thoughts they think can help set their life on a positive course. Done in rhyme and visually appealing, Pretty Peace is one of a kind. The lead character describes herself as a perfectly precocious little child with a curious collection of friends both far away and wild! This is about as simple and yet high minded as children's writing can be.

Ebooks are quickly becoming the "new" thing for kids, as well as adults. Unlike the b&w text books available on the Kindle, Pretty Peace is in full color, comes with two songs to choose from as background music, has narration and light animation. The book literally comes to life in front of the child's eyes. This is the most advance ebook yet to hit the market and simultaneously it carries a wonderfully fun, positive and empowering message for kids of all ages. It makes one think that publishing is about to enter a new golden era.

CAN MUSIC BRING OUT THE PRODIGY IN YOUR CHILD?

2010-02-06T18:14:00.000-08:00

What if there is a prodigy in every child? There are many educators who believe this to be true. Throughout the history of man, music has been accepted as one way that a prodigy can demonstrate their abilities. Some educators now believe that music training can develop the prodigy in your child. One of the keys to being a prodigy is having the ability to fire neurons throughout the brain. A true prodigy fires more neurons and uses every aspect of their bodies physiology to maximize their intelligence. To put it into piano parlance:

If only the right brain is being used, music becomes mere "picking" of keys which is the simplest form of music.
If only the left side of the brain is being used, music turns into mathematics.
If only the cerebellum is being used, music turns into gymnastics (physical activity).
Without the spinal cord there will be a lack of “power”, in expression.
Without a well-developed nervous system, we would not be able to co-ordinate and play fast pieces well.

By starting your child in musical classes at a young age you help fire neurons that may not otherwise be fired. A progressive music program can bring a child's genius to the foreground and when compared to time spent in front of the television, is invaluable.

When the left brain and right brain is mentioned, it involves activating all the parts within each side, i.e. the front, middle, back, upper, lower, etc. groups of brain cells and parts of the cerebrum. Not only are all parts to be activated, it also encompasses forming a network of cells in the greatest possible combination. Einstein wasn't endowed with his intelligence at birth, it developed at later stages. This is a fact that has been proven through chemical research in brain science laboratories.

Study: Media Usage Among Kids Almost a Full Time Job

2010-01-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

A new study shows that media usage among today’s 8-18 year olds has increased to an average of seven hours and thirty-eight minutes per day.

That figure is dramatically from 2004 results, which showed an average total of six hours and twenty-one minutes, reports the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds (PDF) still showed TV as the dominant form of media, with four hours and twenty-nine minutes consumed daily on average, with videogames weighing in at one hour and thirteen minutes of daily usage. Boys were also more likely to spend longer periods playing console games than girls, averaging fifty-six minutes a day versus fourteen for girls. PC game usage showed similar results, with boys averaging twenty-five minutes a day and girls a paltry eight minutes.

Only 30% of kids surveyed indicated that their household has rules in place for what videogames they can play, versus a 46.0% figure when it came to limiting television shows.

The study also showed at least a bit of a link between heavy media usage and poor grades, as 47.0% of “heavy” media users reported receiving “fair or poor” grades, versus 23.0% of “light” media users.

71.0% of the youngsters polled said they had a TV in their bedroom and 50.0% had their own videogame console.

Drew Altman, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation added, “The amount of time young people spend with media has grown to where it's even more than a full-time work week.”

56.0% of those polled indicated they had played an entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, versus 71.0% for Guitar Hero/Rock Band and 47.0% for Halo and Madden.

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