Group items tagged

Title: Bedtime Story: Co-sleeping Research Author: James J. McKenna Ph.D. Date Published: October 1997 Why Relevant and Summary: This article brings up research about cosleeping (not from the past 10 years sadly). It brings up the links with SIDS and the benefits to the mother and child who practice co-sleeping. How this influenced my thinking: These findings showed me that there are benefits to co-sleeping and that bonding can take place while sleeping. Credibility of source: Ph.D. Research done at University of California's Irvine School of Medicine.

Title: Breastfeeding and cosleeping with baby affects mom's welfare Author: Rachael Rettner Date Published: Nov. 2012 Why Relevant and Summary: This article states that breastfeeding and co-sleeping aided in the reduction of the stress hormone cortizol in mothers. How This Influenced My Thinking: The physical effects of natural care taking methods are more pervasive than previously realized Credibility of Source: 6 - Published by FOX News

Title: Benefits of Cosleeping Author: API Staff Why Relevant and Summary: This article shares the benefits of cosleeping long term and short term. They also back up their information with research and scientific studies. How it Influenced My Thinking: I always thought cosleeping was unusual and did not know of many benefits, but this article changed my mind. Credibility :This is an international parenting group that does research on many child rearing and development topics.

Title: 6 Benefits of co-sleeping with your children Author: Naomi De la Torre Date Published: 24Feb2012 Why relevant and Summary: This article talks abut the benefits of co-sleeping and how it can benefit both the child and the family. This article goes into detail about how a child can gain more self esteem and acceptance through co sleeping and how the mother can enjoy more sleep at night while also creating a strong bond with her child. How this influenced my thinking: It has enlightened me to the benefits of co-sleeping. As ignorant as this may sound before this class I always thought people co slept with their child cause they we too cheap to buy them a crib and quite frankly I looked down upon them. But now I understand some of the benefits a child gains through co-sleeping. Credibility: A published website

Title: Children and divorce Author: No Author Date Published: Updated March 2011 Why Relevant and summary: It is relevant because it talks about divorce and how it affects children. It also discusses what the best approach is when dealing with children and divorce. How this influenced my thinking: I am now more conscious and aware that everything that parents do will affect their children.

Title: Middle-School Friends Are Critical For Future Success Author: Rick Nauert Date Published: January 13, 2011 Why Relevant and Summary: It talks about how boys and girls whose friends are socially active in ways where rules are respected do better in their classroom work. How This Influenced My Thinking: On how it is important to have friendships when you are growing up Credibility of Source: Good

Title: Early friendships profoundly affects child's development Author: Paul Schwartz Date Published: N.D. Why relevant and summary: This article discusses the importance of friendship during early childhood and middlechildhood. It discusses some of the factors that allows a child to keep a friend and the possible outcomes when a child is rejected. This article also discussed that it is imperative that a parent understand when a child is lonely or just simply wants to be alone. How this influenced my thinking: I found it interesting that like adults children need their alone time. I never realized the importance of them being able to play by themself and if a parent is too pushy that it could cause them to withdraw. Credibility of Source: Article was published by a Dr.

Title: Shelley Hymel Heads Bullying Research Network Author: Erin Anderson Date Published: June 15, 2011 Why Relevant and Summary: Website had good overview of event for bullying with link to full article. How This Influenced My Thinking: Gave an overview of bullying that confirmed things I saw with my own children while they were in elementary school. Credibility of Source: Very Good.

Title: Promoting Resilience in Children: What Parents Can Do Authors: Christine A. Christle, M.Ed., Debra A. Harley, Ph.D., C. Michael, Nelson, Ed.D., Karen Jones Date Published: n.d. Why Relevant and Summary: I thought this article was pertinent to friendships in middle childhood, and in particular, it seemed useful in terms of dealing with negative social interactions. How This Influenced My Thinking: It identified a significant factor that explains why some kids succeed. That factor is resilience. Credibility of Source: High

Title: Co-Parenting After Divorce - Sixteen Arguments in Support of Co-Parenting Author: Edward Kruk, Ph.D. Date published: April 16, 2012 Why relevant and summary: In the absence of violence, abuse, etc., the best thing for children in the midst of divorce is to have time with both parents. Shared parenting or Co-Parenting encourages children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents after a divorce. Although in practice, this can be difficult and the reality is that in many divorces, kids will live primarily with one parent, the point is to set aside our anger and conflicts with the ex spouse and really put the children's needs first. How this influenced my thinking: I recently went through a divorce, and my ex spouse lives on the opposite coast. Co-parenting is quite tricky, but the bottom line is that we both agree that the kids need their father in the picture as much as possible. We have agreed to never, ever use the children as a weapon against each other. We always consult each other in terms of the children's needs, education, etc. Although the kids live 100% of the time with me, I encourage daily contact with their father via Skype/FaceTime, and when they are a bit older, they will be able to travel and spend some school vacations with their dad. Credibility: Psychology Today blog is credible.

Title: Puberty and adolescence Author: Jennifer Mannheim Date Published: n.d. Why relevant and summary: This webpage discusses how both boys and girls reach puberty and what their physical changes are. They elaborate on how a girl start her menstrual cycle and why it is important for them not to engage in adult activities such as sex. How this influenced my thinking: this article further strengthened my knowledge on the subject. Credibility: this was from a government webpage.

Title: Sex in Middle School? Author: John Stossel Date Published: Dec. 6, 2012 Why relevant and details: This article discusses the decrease in the percentage of middle schoolers engaging in sexual activity over the last decade and also offers tips for parents on how to talk to their kids about sex. Additionally, the article features a few personal stories from young teens. How this influenced my thinking: As a mother of two young girls, it won't be long until I'll be dealing with talking to my kids about these issues. I was glad to read from several sources, including this one, that the rates of sexual activity among teens and preteens has been declining over the past few years.

Title: Puberty Before Age 10: A New 'Normal'? Author: Elizabeth Weil Date Published: March 30th, 2012 Why Relevant and Summary: It goes through the very basic changes that are seen in puberty, but it's discussing these changes happening in very young girls. In this article, they describe the situation of a little girl in the first grade! How This Influenced My Thinking: Made me aware of what I was consuming and how I may decide to raise my children. It is concerning that there's a possibility of "outside" estrogen causing this early onset of puberty. It's also interesting that we do not note this trend in boys. Credibility of Source: Good - NY Times is very popular. The article contains advice from a variety of doctors and professionals.

Title: Talking To Your Kids About Sex date: May 2005 author: American Academy of child and adolescent psychiatry why relevant and summary: This article offers an overview on what to expect as your child approaches middle childhood and adolescence. It explain what to expect the question to be at certain stages and how much information to give and how to present it. how has this influenced my thinking: I have a 7 and a 9 year old and I am very interested to know as much as possible about this topic. I was very surprised to read how the professionals contributing to this article find it a OK to explain to an 8 year old the basic concept of conception. credibility of source: it was published on the "American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" website.

Title: Focus on Kids: The Effects of Divorce on Children Author: Karen DeBord Date Published: n.d. Why Relevant and Summary: It's relevant because it discusses what the child feels and what things may change according to which age group he or she is in. How This Influenced My Thinking: It gave me more knowledge on how it is kids feel. This is beneficial to me because I want to work with children. Credibility of Source: Seems credible. It lists all the sources used.

Title: Puberty Author: n.a. Date: 2012 Why relevant and summary: Explains the biological changes that occur during puberty. How this influenced my thinking: I was surprised how much your hormones have to do with the physical shape of your body. Credibility: Seems very credible

Title: Female Sex Hormones Author: Dawn Tamarkin PhD Date Published: 2011 Why Relevant and Summary: Overview of female sex hormones and how they are made. How this influenced my thinking: I didn't know that fat had anything to do with hormones. Credibility of Source: High, writen by a PhD

Title: The Sex Atlas Author: Erwin Haeberle Date Published: 1983 Why Relevant and Summary: Still relevant, even though its old because puberty hans't changed. It talks all about primary and secondary characteristics of puberty as well as the cognitive side of it. How This Influenced My Thinking: It opened my eyes to more of the cognitive side of it because the physical side is kind of obvious to me! Credibility of Source: Seems legit! It's a published book...

Title: Mothers and Daughters: How to Talk "The Talk" Author:Catherine Kedjidjian Date Published: n.d. Why Relevant and Summary: In this article, I learned that the sex talk can help prevent a lot of things. Such as fear, awkwardness, and curiosity. Having the sex talk is well awkward, but it helps prevent unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancies, and well sex. Apparently, if a parent talks to their child about sex it decreases the number of partners they will have and it will keep abstinence a lot longer than others. For a girl, it is easier and less awkward to talk to your mother about sex than it is your father. I learned that it is never too early to have the sex talk with your child and that there are websites and centers that can help you ease into the sex talk without it being awkward. I read about how there are signs that indicate puberty is around the corner for girls and how a mother should have open communications with her daughter when it comes to puberty and sex. How This Influenced My Thinking: This article has broadened my knowledge of puberty and the sex talk very much. Credibility of Source: Credible.

title: Social Issues: What Can Parents Do? author: PBS- parents date: n.d why relevant and summary: I found this article very interesting, it gives great advice on how can parents help their kids with their friendships and what can they do without overpowering them. how has this influenced my thinking: This article has confirmed a lot of strategies that I have used with my kids and their friends so far. credibility of source: it is published on the PBS website.