Items on the Homefront

Save to notebook Email article Print article More articles

Kids and TV:

Good and bad news
Watching educational programs for preschoolers, like "Blues Clues" and "Sesame Street," can improve a child's reading or problem-solving skills compared with kids who never watch the shows: good news.

Now the bad news: Studies reported in Pediatrics link TV watching with attention problems in children. A big part of the problem is the fact that grown-up shows are blaring in the background while kids play, and that may be the real culprit. They especially recommend no TV noise for kids age 2 and under.

The study showed that the more television kids were exposed to at a young age, especially hearing it blaring in the background, the more likely their parents were to report attention problems at age 7.

Researchers say programs like "Sponge Bob SquarePants" and "Scooby-Doo" can be enjoyed as an occasional diversion without being harmful.

Unstick wooden drawers

In humid weather, wood drawers can swell and be difficult to open and close.

* Use a dehumidifier, or dry the wood by placing a lighted bulb (100 watts or less) on a metal tray inside of it. Close for 15 to 20 minutes.

* Clean the runners and drawer sides and rub them with wax or paraffin.

* Sand the drawers to loosen fit.

Long Island Family Life & Parenting Articles > Items on the Homefront