Brainworks – June 2021
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view.
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view.
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view.
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view. K-2 Brainworks March 2021 3-6 Brainworks March 2021
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view. K-2 Brainworks February 2021 3-6 Brainworks February 2021
Many people are aware of the threat posed by carbon monoxide, or CO. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 430 people die from accidental CO poisoning in the United States each year, while the Canada Safety Council notes that carbon monoxide is the leading cause of fatal poisonings throughout North America. The CDC points out that instances of CO poisoning are entirely preventable, which might surprise many of the estimated tens of thousands of people in the United States who visit emergency rooms to be treated for CO poisoning each year. Learning to recognize signs of CO poisoning and how to prevent it can help people avoid its harmful effects and potentially save lives. Recognizing CO poisoning. The National Center for Environmental Health says that breathing CO can cause a variety of symptoms, including headache, dizziness, vomiting or nausea. Infants, the elderly and people with chronic heart disease, anemia or breathing problems are more likely to get sick from CO exposure than children, adults and people without the aforementioned conditions. How can I prevent CO poisoning? Even those people who do not lose their lives to moderate or severe CO poisoning can suffer long-term health consequences, including an increased risk of heart disease, as a result of their exposure. So it behooves everyone to take steps to prevent CO poisoning from occurring. Do not run a motor vehicle, generator, pressure washer or any gasoline-powered engine within 20 feet of an open window, door or vent. The exhaust from such items can vent into enclosed areas, increasing the risk of CO exposure. Do not leave motor vehicles running in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, such as a garage. Do not run generators, pressure washers or gasoline-powered engines inside basements, garages or other enclosed structures, even if windows are open. Do not operate charcoal grills, hibachis, lanterns or portable camping stoves indoors or insides tents or campers. CO poisoning can cause very serious consequences, including death. Fortunately, all instances of CO poisoning can be prevented.
Many a parent understands the problems posed by picky eaters. Dinner table confrontations over vegetables can try parents’ patience, and kids busy refusing to eat their broccoli may not be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need to grow up healthy and strong. Recognizing that parents sometimes face an uphill battle when confronted with picky eaters, the American Heart Association offers the following tips. Let kids pitch in on prep. The AHA recommends allowing picky eaters to help shop for groceries and prepare meals. Youngsters who pitch in may be more invested in their meals and therefore more likely to eat them. Steer clear of unhealthy foods. Kids imitate their parents’ behaviors, and that extends to the foods mom and dad eat. Parents who set bad examples by eating unhealthy meals and snacks may find it especially difficult to convince youngsters to forgo pizza and potato chips in favor of healthy fare. In addition, kids can’t sneak unhealthy snacks if such snacks are nowhere to be found. Avoid sugary drinks, such as soda, in favor of water or 100 percent juice as well. Stick to a snack schedule. The AHA advises that many kids like routine and will grow accustomed to eating at certain times. When parents and kids stick to a snack schedule, the AHA suggests kids are likely to eat what they’re given. Choose healthy snacks, ideally incorporating two food groups. Add healthy foods to dishes kids already like. Another way to get picky eaters to embrace healthy foods is to introduce such foods into dishes kids already like. For example, add antioxidant-rich blueberries to pancakes. Kids might like that extra burst of flavor, and parents can rest easy knowing kids are eating something healthy. Don’t be afraid to serve the occasional bowl of ice cream or brownie. When eaten in moderation, foods that are not often associated with nutrition, such as ice cream and baked goods, don’t pose much of a threat. In addition, if kids’ diets never include such indulgences, the AHA notes that youngsters are more likely to overindulge when they do get their hands on forbidden foods, such as at birthday parties or other special events.
Add joy to the holiday season with exciting books for kids. Think about choices focusing on STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) that encourage the pursuit for knowledge and offer opportunities for immersive learning experiences. Here are a few fun ideas. Ultimate Book of Knowledge Packed with information, “DK Children’s Encyclopedia” explains virtually everything! Each entry features a key topic explained in a visual way with fun facts and cross-references, revealing the links between subjects. Covering arts, people, history, Earth, nature, science, technology, space and the human body, this is an essential reference book for children who wants to discover as much as possible about the world around them. Cool Coding Kids can learn to code games and use Scratch with “Star Wars Coding Projects,” a visual guide that shows readers everything they need to know to create cool computer projects, animations and games. Readers can build a game where they navigate a spaceship through an asteroid belt, as well as a jetpack simulation game. Kids can share projects with friends and challenge them to beat their scores. Each project consists of simple, illustrated steps. Nature Up-Close A visual reference for kids that explores the natural world in stunning detail, “Explanatorium of Nature,” created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, is the first in a brand-new book series. Through close-ups and cross-sections, exploded images, X-rays and more, the book explores everything from fruit to flies, coral to clouds, and mountains to mammals – and is a nice tool for curious minds to find out how things work and why they exist. Virtual Reality Created in association with an educational virtual reality company, “Virtual Reality” explores the history of VR and includes an app download for five VR experiences and a cardboard viewer with stickers to make it your own. Kids can come face-to-face with a T. rex, look inside a volcano, explore the Roman Colosseum, hop aboard the International Space Station and peek under the surface of a pond. DIY Everything Using freely available software, “3D Printing Projects” provides inspiration and step-by-step visual instruction for simple builds and complicated pieces, from small treasure boxes to chess sets and model cars. This how-to guide covers such subjects as designing, scanning, modeling, digital sculpting, slicing and printing. Information on the 3D printing revolution and the science behind how it works is also included. This holiday season, give the gift of knowledge and fun, with great books that explore the world.
f youngsters have been eyeing fuzzy kittens or boisterous puppies at nearby shelters or pet stores, parents may want to give in to those cries for a family pet. Pets are added responsibilities, but the health benefits associated with pet ownership may be well worth the investment of time and effort. Caring for a pet is sometimes viewed as a childhood rite of passage, but there’s much more to the experience than just learning responsibility. Experts say a child’s emotional, cognitive, physical and social development can be enhanced through interaction with a family pet. Studies continue, but the effects of family pets on children was heavily researched by developmental psychologist Gail F. Melson in 2003. Melson looked at literature on child-animal relationships and found that children who had pets were better able to understand biology and children who could turn to pets for unconditional emotional support were less anxious and withdrawn than their peers without family pets. Data from a small study conducted by researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University reported that adolescents who had animal experience were more likely to see themselves as important contributors to communities and more likely to take on leadership roles. Pets can also help children develop into well-rounded individuals. Playing with a pet requires children to engage in physical activity and can help stimulate motor skills. An English study conducted in 2010 and published in the “American Journal of Public Health” found that children from dog-owning families spent more time in light or moderate to vigorous physical activity and recorded higher levels of activity counts per minute than kids whose families did not own a dog. Pets may help with allergies and respiratory ailments as well. A 2012 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics discovered that children who have early contact with cats and dogs have fewer respiratory infections and ear infections and need shorter courses of antibiotics than children who have not had contact with pets. A study from Dennis Ownby, M.D., a pediatrician and head of the allergy and immunology department of the Medical College of Georgia, found that having multiple pets decreases a child’s risk of developing certain allergies. He found that the children who were exposed to two or more dogs or cats as babies were less than half as likely to develop common allergies as kids who had no pets in the home. Pets also may foster social interactions, which can benefit children who are shy. Inviting others over to meet pets can help children make friends and find others with similar interests. Children may also confide in pets, which can help develop their self esteem.
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view. K-2 Brainworks December 2020 3-6 Brainworks December 2020
Please click the title of which Brainworks edition you want to view. K-2 Brainworks November 2020 3-6 Brainworks November 2020