Welcome to the Age of Overparenting- How I Learned to Let My Kids Be Kids

By Katherine Ozment WHEN BOSTON WAS HIT by last winter’s barrage of blizzards, my two oldest kids, then ages eight and five, spent their snow days lounging around the house in their pajamas, occasionally dabbling at the computer. “Mom,” they said, “we’re bored.” Finally, I suggested they go outside — but not too far and […]

Gluten-free grains

The following are grains one can consume while on a gluten free diet.  Kathy Smart, HTC, PTS, RNC, RSNA AMARANTHAmaranth is not an actual grain; it is an ancient Aztec plant which produces flowerets containing tiny grain-like seeds.  It has a nut-like flavour, and is high in protein and is the second highest in quality […]

Are kids suffering from nature-deficit disorder?

A Conservation Council of New Brunswick initiative is urging parents and educators to take children outside more often in an effort to promote better health and environmental stewardship in the future. According to author Richard Louv, “Nature-deficit disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature – among them: diminished use of the senses, attention […]

Trained Peers Better at Aiding Autistic Kids with Social Skills

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News EditorReviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 1, 2011 _____________________________________________________________________________ A new study suggests training peers can help children with autism spectrum disorder improve their social skills, even more than a direct adult-led intervention. Researchers led by Connie Kasari, Ph.D., discovered children with ASD who attend regular education […]

Brain Enlargement Seen In Boys With Regressive Autism, But Not Early Onset Autism

In the largest study of brain development in preschoolers with autism to date, a study by UC Davis MIND Institute researchers has found that 3-year-old boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than their healthy counterparts. The study is published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesEarly […]