His study, which was just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found a 30% increase in the rate of minimal hearing loss and a 77% increase in the rate of serious hearing loss in American children ages 12 through 19, compared with data from the mid-1990′s.

This is a huge jump and of serious concern to doctors and parents alike. Although the researchers have not yet pinpointed the exact cause of this worrisome trend they, along with audiologists and other experts in the field have their strong suspicions — and so do we. In case you haven’t noticed, practically every teenager in this country spends a good part of each day with something in their ears. Ipods, M3P players and the like seem to be permanently glued to the heads of many of our kids.

Researchers at Colorado University and Children’s Hospital in Boston found that not only do teens play their music at much higher levels than adults, they don’t realize how high the volume is. Cory Portnuff, who led that study on hearing loss and Ipod use found that many kids assume that the manufacturer’s default setting makes the maximum volume safe (it’s not). Add to that the fact that they are listening to music for much longer periods of time than before and you start to get an understanding of the problem.

And most of the kids are pretty clueless about the fact that they are putting their hearing at risk, says Portnuff. He found that listening to an Ipod with earbuds for 90 minutes a day at 80% volume was probably safe but even 5 minutes a day at full volume is enough to increase the risk of permanent damage.

And once the damage is done, it’s done. The loss is irreversible. NO MORE HEARING — FOR LIFE! So what can you do? A few things:

1. Share this post with your child and try to get them to take this seriously.
2. Set the volume level on your child’s Ipod. Apple gives detailed instructions on its website as to how you can do this.
3. Check out the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website which features a bookmark on How Loud is Too Loud?
4. Take a look at Listen to Your Buds, a website that helps you and your kids understand the risks of loud noise and how you can protect your hearing.

Witnessing an asthma attack in a small child can be terrifying, and if you’ve seen one you know exactly what we’re talking about. The best description around is that it’s like trying to gulp air through a straw.

Explanations for the increase abound. Some experts suggest that children are being exposed to more and more allergens such as dust, insect droppings, and second-hand smoke. These are all triggers of asthma.

Others suspect that children are not exposed to enough childhood illnesses to build up their immune systems. It appears that children who fail to make enough protective antibodies may be at higher risk of developing asthma. Still others suggest that decreasing rates of breastfeeding have prevented important immune mediators from being passed on to babies.

But there’s an enormous elephant in the room that needs an elephant gun, and no one knows what to do about it. It’s the issue of man-made changes to our environment and their contribution to childhood asthma.

What follows is an excerpt from an excellent article written by Floyd J. Malveaux, MD, PhD. Dr. Malveaux is the executive director of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN), the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated to implementing science-based programs to address childhood asthma. He is a nationally recognized expert on asthma and allergic diseases, and Professor of Microbiology and Medicine at Howard University.

There is no doubt that the environments in which we all live, learn, work and play are changing and affecting our health. It is time for our nation to broaden its view on the environment and begin taking a long, hard look at how to reshape health care and chronic disease management to minimize adverse health consequences of environmental change both today and in the long-term.

One of the starkest examples of the consequences of the environment on health can be seen in childhood asthma, the single most common chronic condition among children. Asthma’s growing incidence in the United States, which some experts speculate is indirectly related to climate change, has left one-in-seven American children and their families struggling with ongoing management of the disease.

Nearly 60 percent of children diagnosed with asthma have had an attack within the previous 12 months, sending hundreds of thousands of parents racing their children to the hospital for emergent care each year. And what’s worse is that more than 1 million of these children remain uninsured and at risk for relatively poor health care.

As scary as these numbers are, they are only bound to grow if we do not address the impact of environmental changes and poor quality care on this condition – putting children at increased risk of developing or losing control of asthma.

The very nature of this chronic disease calls for strict control of environmental triggers, which can bring on life-threatening attacks. These exacerbating triggers, including indoor and outdoor air pollutants and allergens to which we are all exposed each day, are worsening with climate change and are in turn adversely impacting the severity of asthma for children.

For example, air with high ozone concentrations that 3.9 million children in the U.S. are exposed to each day, can both trigger wheezing and attacks and make children’s still developing airways more vulnerable to allergens in the future.

On top of the daily assault to their health via airborne pollutants, seasonal triggers are estimated to increase in abundance and severity. For example, a new report from the National Wildlife Federation shows that 16 states are at risk for moderate to large increases in highly allergenic tree spring pollen (3), a trigger for some asthmatic children.

These environmental factors lie beyond the control of any one family and fall outside of traditional “health care” interventions, but I see the impact they have on everyday life and childhood for the millions of children with asthma and their families. I also see the need to change our reactive approach to managing this disease to a proactive and preventive venue that embraces sound public health principles.

What changes can we as a nation make to improve outcomes for children with asthma and others with underlying diseases affected by the environment? On the local level, interventions in community-based locations used by children — playgrounds, schools and school-yards, and public housing units — and the implementation of policies such as those designed to reduce idling by buses around schools, have increasingly been shown to play a role in reducing asthma triggers.

Melba Miles is a great example. She is proud grandmother to two-year-old Jamal who suffers from asthma, and spent many months standing by as her grandson suffered asthma attacks, including one that left him in intensive care for five days. After the attack, Melba became involved in the Addressing Asthma in Englewood program, a local Chicago initiative that helped her learn to manage Jamal’s asthma. However, Melba noticed that every time the city sprayed vacant lots in her neighborhood with pesticides, Jamal and other residents with asthma experienced breathing troubles. The city’s policy was to spray vacant lots in Chicago, including many in Englewood, without any warning to people living nearby.

During a neighborhood advisory board of community leaders and caregivers created by the Addressing Asthma in Englewood program, Melba expressed her concerns about the effects pesticide spraying was having on residents’ asthma. Leaders of the asthma program took action. Working with city officials, they created new spraying policies that would limit exposure to the pesticides. Now, residents in Englewood and across Chicago can be put on a “do not spray” list or must be notified before their neighborhood is sprayed so they can close the doors and windows or stay indoors after the spraying occurs.

The ever changing climate, one of the most visible concerns in the 21st century, has raised our nation’s consciousness about our environment. As a result, many of us have focused on buying hybrid cars, recycling newspapers, greening our homes and workplaces and even saving endangered species. But we have not yet focused on what we can do to save our own health. For ourselves — and for our children and grandchildren — this has to change.

Thank you Dr. Malveaux, we couldn’t have said it better. Now where’s that elephant gun?

1) GPS tracker phone for kids

This kid-friendly cell phone lets you keep track of kiddo’s real time position by sending a text message to the tracker phone anytime you like. You can also set a geo-fence zone to alert you if your little guys venture beyond a certain area. And YOU set the numbers that can be called.

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2) Babyglow

A color-changing onesie that lets you know if your precious one is running a fever. They come in blue, pink, or green and change to white if Junior’s temp rises above 99 F. Removes all the muss and fuss.  Ingenious … if it works.

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3) Toothprints

Records individual tooth characteristics and tooth position, plus collects DNA in saliva- important information for identification. It is safe and easy to do in the privacy of your own home. Addresses one of the greatest fears of parents today — that their child will get lost or, worse yet, be abducted.

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4) Peanut allergy tattoos

Kit contains “No Nuts Please!” Temporary Tattoos, Moisture Towelettes (for applying) and On-The-Go Alcohol Wipes (for removing). Perfect for school, camp, birthday parties, and play dates.

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5) PG Key

Kid’s internet safety software plugs into any USB port to create a safe environment for using the internet. Responsible computer use is a must when the key is in place, shutdown occurs if it’s removed. Know where your child has been beyond a shadow of a doubt.

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6) Ear Muffs by Banz

Protect those ears! These are all the rage since Drew Brees’ little guy was seen sporting them on the field after the Superbowl. Available in several colors and patterns, we’re fans.

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There is no question we believe that in the vast majority of cases childhood immunization is the way to go. Yes, there are exceptions, and if it makes parents more comfortable to push the time frame a bit, that’s usually fine. But to just say no? To refuse recommended vaccines without good reason? We think that’s generally a bad idea.

So when a vaccine is available that prevents a common form of cancer in young women, and parents take a pass, we worry. That’s the situation with the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine. The HPV vaccine is designed for young teens. The idea is to immunize against this virus that causes cervical cancer in women before they become sexually active and are likely to come in contact with it. It’s a relatively simple form of cancer prevention, yet it’s estimated that only 25-30% of 11-15 year old girls are getting it.

Courtney, an MOC regular, sent us this question:

I just took my 12-year-old daughter for her physical (she starts middle school this fall) and her doctor recommended she get the vaccine that protects against genital warts, which he explained can lead to cervical cancer in the future??!! I’ve heard some scary things about this vaccine causing fainting and seizures, and I certainly don’t expect my daughter to be sexually active anytime soon. I decided to hold off, but now I’m having second thoughts. What’s your recommendation?

A week later a good friend, who’s daughter is 11, asked the same question. We think it’s time to lay out the facts.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is directly responsible for up to 80% of cervical cancers. The vast majority of HPV strains go undetected and unnoticed and are quickly destroyed by our immune systems. Although almost 250 strains of HPV have been detected, only 4 of them have been linked to cervical cancer. Of these, #16 and #18 are the most dangerous.

Cervical cancer is treatable in its early stages, but the problem is that it often goes undetected until the cancer is well advanced and inoperable. The HPV strains that cause cervical cancer can sit dormant for long periods of time while they slowly alter the structure of cervical cells. Therefore, it is critical for all women who are sexually active to have regular Pap tests. A Pap smear can detect the presence of abnormal cells so that further investigations can be conducted.

The HPV vaccine has been developed to prevent cervical cancer that occurs as a direct result of HPV. The cervical cancer vaccine is called Gardasil and a campaign is under way to vaccinate all girls and women between the ages of 11 and 18. The vaccine is administered in a series of 3 injections. All 3 injections have to be completed before the vaccine can be considered protective. However, the vaccine is not guaranteed if the recipient has already been sexually active and at risk of having already been exposed to HPV.

Why is there controversy surrounding the vaccine? Various groups have opposed the vaccine for a variety of reasons. The HPV vaccine has only been available for a short period of time, so the long term effects of the vaccine have not had time to be fully investigated. While limited side effects, including slight nausea or irritation around the site of the injection have been noted, some reports have indicated that up to 3 girls have had serious reactions as a result of being vaccinated. The proof is inconclusive at this time.

While clinical tests of the HPV vaccine in the US have proven it to be virtually 100% effective against HPV types #16 and #18, it does not offer protection against the many other strains of HPV (which are not thought to be significant causes of cervical cancer) and won’t protect women who have been sexually active before the vaccine was administered.

The slight discomfort that young girls may experience when given the HPV vaccine is insignificant when compared to the consequences of cervical cancer, which is responsible for approximately 4,000 US deaths each year, so the solution for parents is to gather as much information as possible about HPV and its consequences and then make an informed decision.

Dr. Dianna Tolen, a pediatrician in Canfield, Ohio recently commented on her experience with the vaccine in her practice:

“We have been giving this vaccine in our office for more than a few years and routinely offer it at the 11-12 year visit.  Can you guess how many takers we get?  Less than 25%.  My ratio of ordering Tdap [the tetanus, diptheria, pertussis vaccine], which is required for school, to HPV, which is not, is amazing.

I am a huge proponent of vaccines and our practice has reached a 98% vaccination rate of required vaccines by our state chart review in past years, so many of our patients get vaccines at any and all visits.  Our parents are accustomed to me ‘catching’ their kids up at sick visits, and even a sibling’s visit, and I don’t continue to treat total vaccine refusers.  But for some reason this vaccine has been a hard sell.

I usually get the head shake immediately, “no, we are going to wait on that one.”  Or, “no, her father doesn’t feel she needs that vaccine yet.”  These people are in total denial.  With the Kinsey Institute showing 1/4 of both males and females admitting to having sexual intercourse by age 15 and half by age 17, how long do they think they are going to wait on that one?  What’s even more obvious is that when I talk to the teens by themselves to offer the vaccine, they all want it, it is the parents that have blinders on and refuse it.”

So there you have it. We understand how hard it can be to see your child as a soon-to-be young adult and sexual being, but knowledge is power, so do all the research you can and come to a decision that’s right for your daughters (and sons, as the vaccine is now recommended for boys as well). But beware of the bias you encounter in the process. We’re clear about ours. Not all sources of info are as up-front.

For more information about the HPV vaccine, go to the Centers for Disease Control and WebMD.com.

We recently read

The Happiest Baby on the Block

Dr. Harvey Karp’s techniques are based on the theory that babies are essentially born 3 months too soon (the ‘Fourth Trimester’).

When they were in utero they were used to being ‘held’ 24 hours a day. They were constantly being moved around, jiggled and bounced, swaying from side-to side, with the loud and comforting sounds of the womb lulling them to sleep. Yet, once they are born, we expect that we can put them down in a quiet, dark room, in a crib, by themselves.

And for some babies, this is OK. They seem to be able to fall asleep and be quite content in any situation. But for other babies, particularly those with more spirited temperaments, an environment more similar to the womb is far more comforting and soothing.

The Calming Reflex

Reflexes are involuntary reactions our bodies make towards certain stimuli. For instance, during routine physical examinations, your doctor may check your knee jerk reflex; If she hits exactly the right part of your knee with her little rubber hammer, your leg should jerk involuntarily.

In the same way, the so-called calming reflex is a baby’s response to certain stimuli. Dr. Karp believes that this reflex is present in babies in utero, and disappears somewhere around 4-5 months.

The reason for this reflex? Dr. Karp says that this reflex plays a crucial role during pregnancy: Imagine if babies became upset or frantic while in the womb. They would constantly be moving around, and changing position, which of course would be not only painful and dangerous for the mother, but would mean the baby could move out of the head down position necessary for a natural birth.

The Cuddle Cure (aka the 5 S’s)

Swaddling

Wrapping your baby very snugly in a blanket, to recreate the warm and secure feeling of the mother’s womb. The snugger, the better! Swaddling your baby too loosely can result in your baby breaking free of the swaddle, or even just further irritating them. Because newborns tend to unconsciously jerk and flail their arms and legs around, the swaddle allows the baby to remain calm and aids them in falling asleep and staying asleep.

Side/Stomach Position

The idea here is to hold your baby in the side lying or face-down position. Because a baby placed on his or her back may experience the sensation of falling, holding them in either of these positions can help them to feel more secure. Note: never put babies to sleep on their tummies due to increased risk of SIDS.

Shushing

While your baby was in utero, he was constantly subjected to the sounds of blood rushing through arteries surrounding the womb. Anything you can do to replicate this shushing sound will likely help to calm your baby and help him fall asleep. The key is the volume of the sound; it has to be loud. Loud enough that he can hear the sound over his own crying or screaming. Some helpful ideas I’ve heard are:

The sound of a running motor (i.e. the infamous middle-of-the-night car ride)

Clothes dryer or dishwasher

Loud ‘shhhhhh’ing sound in baby’s ear

Hair dryer

Loud bathroom fan (this was our noise-maker of choice)

White noise machine

Vacuum cleaner

Any of these sounds can be found on ‘white noise’ CD’s; very helpful if you don’t want the vacuum cleaner on all night (Dr. Karp has a white noise CD)

Swinging

Because your baby was in almost constant motion while in the womb, many fussy babies seem to be lulled to sleep by swinging or rocking (back and forth, not so much side to side, unless you often walked sideways while pregnant of course!). Rocking your baby in a rocking chair, cradle, or infant car seat, taking them for rides in their stroller or the car, or ‘wearing’ your baby in a sling or other carrier are all great ideas. The trick here is to make sure the rocking is quick enough and hard enough. In fact, what he suggests is putting your baby up on your shoulder and ‘jiggling’ them so their head jiggles slightly (not wildly around).

Sucking

Sucking on anything: A pacifier, breast, bottle, or even your finger aids in calming your baby. It works best in conjunction with one or more of the other techniques.

All white noise is not created equally. Especially for kids who are really fussy, they need a harsh, multi-frequency sound….I now recommend babies sleep with it for at least the first year of life, because it not only helps the fussy baby sleep, but it helps them not wake up when they start having teething pain when they’re 6-8 months of age. Oftentimes the hum of a fan or an air conditioner are not adequate. For many kids who are put in swings, if you use a harsher white noise sound all night, they don’t need the swing. – Harvey Karp

Pretty interesting — and it makes a lot of sense, given what we’ve seen. Rachel’s middle son screamed pretty much non-stop for up to 6 hours from 3 weeks to 12 weeks unless the kitchen faucet was running full-bore. Maybe it provided the shushing sound Dr. Karp talks about. We all know moms who tell stories about their own personal colic technique. The one and only thing that worked.

So try out the 5 S’s if you’re one of the unlucky ones. And let us know how it goes …

”Some people here (in the US) think they don’t have to breastfeed, and I think ‘Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?’ I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months.”

Some moms are outraged, and with good reason. Do we really need to be lectured about the rules of parenting by supermodels? Has our celebrity culture gone totally over the line? Here’s what the … ummm … more qualified professionals have to say.

From HealthyChildren.org, the web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics:

The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates breastfeeding as the optimal form of infant feeding. Even though formula feeding is not identical to breastfeeding, formulas do provide appropriate nutrition. Both approaches are safe and healthy for your baby, and each has its advantages.

The most practical benefits of breastfeeding are convenience and cost, but there are some real medical benefits, too. Breastmilk provides your baby with natural antibodies that help her resist some types of infections (including ear, respiratory, and intestinal infections). Breastfed babies also are less likely to suffer from allergies that occasionally occur in babies fed cow’s milk formulas. Breastfed infants also may be less likely to develop asthma and diabetes, or become overweight, than those who are bottle-fed.

Mothers who nurse their babies feel there are many emotional rewards. Once the milk supply is established and the baby is nursing well, both mother and child experience a tremendous sense of closeness and comfort, a bond that continues throughout infancy. The first week or two can be challenging for some, but most pediatricians can offer guidance or refer you to a certified lactation consultant for assistance if needed.

If there is a medical reason you cannot breastfeed or you choose not to do so, you still can achieve similar feelings of closeness during bottle-feedings. Rocking, cuddling, stroking, and gazing into your baby’s eyes will enhance the experience for both of you, regardless of the milk source.

So you decide. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Some moms want to breastfeed and can’t, and they should not feel guilty about it. We all know scores of happy, healthy adults who were bottle fed and did just fine. There are no breastfeeding police, thank goodness.

And as always, consider the source.

A new report due to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Pediatrics reviewed 1,400 cases of what’s known as “malicious medication”, and documented the use of alcohol, cough and cold medicines, pain killers, sedatives, sleeping pills, and antipsychotics that were given to calm unruly kids. Nearly 14% of these cases led to serious consequences for the kids — including death.

The findings highlight a serious problem, according to study author Dr. Shan Yin, of the University of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center at Denver Health. ”The malicious administration of pharmaceuticals should be considered an important form of child abuse,” Yin says.

Pretty shocking, isn’t it? You’d never do that, would you?

Well, before you get your righteous indignation in a wad, pause and reflect for a moment. Many of us (OK, most of us) have tried, or at least thought about, medicating our little ones to get through long plane rides, right? And maybe at the tail-end of a cold, if yours was still a bit crabby and over-tired, even though the stuffy nose was pretty much gone you figured what the heck — one last dose of cold medicine before bed couldn’t hurt, could it?

So maybe we’ve all been perched on the edge of that slippery slope. And maybe this is the logical outcome in the age of tweets and facebook status updates. One mom tells another, and soon it’s gone viral. If everyone’s doing it, it must be okay.

Here’s another thing: we talk a lot about what you model for your kids. It’s that monkey-see-monkey-do rule of parenting. So do we medicate too much? It’s become commonplace to medicalize our bad moods, our sleeplessness, our grief and our worries, and take a pill to soothe them, so why not do the same for our kiddos? Has a spoonful of Benadryl for Junior taken the place of a couple of martinis to get through that 5 PM pre-dinner meltdown?

Are we all guilty of a little bit of malicious medication? What if …

… they came up with Children’s Ambien. Just like the grown-up version — just a smaller dose to get the little guys down for the night. You could rest assured that 30 minutes after the stuff passed their lips they’d be out, even if you hadn’t finished reading Good Night Moon for the third time through. Would you give it? Occasionally? If you’d had a REALLY bad day?

… the pediatrician recommended you give Benadryl to your 3 year old to help dry up inner ear fluid that didn’t require antibiotics, but might if it sat there too long. You noticed that your kiddo responded really well. He was unusually happy, slept better, and the ear pain was gone by morning. A miracle! Would you tend to give it again … for a lesser reason?

… your baby has the worst EVER case of colic. I’m talking several (like 5+) hours of shrill crying each night between 9 PM and 2 AM … or more. It’s excruciating for you and for her. Your great aunt tells you about the good old days, when colicky babies were given phenobarb (a strong barbiturate) to soothe them. It worked. She happens to know a doc who’s willing to prescribe it. Would you …?

We mention these hypothetical situations to point out that it’s not black or white. There are always extenuating circumstances. Is it always abusive?

We sure don’t know the answer, but we’re worried about that slippery slope. All of us are teetering on the edge. Weigh in.

A recent article pegs the price of raising a child born in 2009 at a whopping $222,360. Take a breath, pregnant moms and dads, because it’s only going … UP! That doesn’t include the cost of college, by the way.

Expenses for child care, education and health care rose the most compared with 2008 prices, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department’s current report. Child care accounts for 17% of total spending, and education for 16%. The cost of housing makes up nearly one-third, based on the average cost of an additional bedroom. But the tally excludes any spending on kids over age 17. Can anyone out there imagine your child off the payroll entirely by their 18th birthday? Then bump the number up accordingly.

For families with many kids, there is some good news: The more children you have, the less it costs to raise each one. You can save almost 25% on each if you go for the bulk rate and have 3 or more kiddos. Of course, it still doesn’t pencil out since you have to multiply the new, reduced price X 3.

To read the full report, complete with the Cost of Raising a Child Calculator, check out the USDA website here.

And you may want to start scaling back on those pedicures, restaurant dinners, and other luxuries like food and water. But don’t scrimp on the antidepressants.

1) Fruit juice and lemonade don’t count towards hydration in warm weather.

~ All fluids count, including those containing caffeine, but none are as good as water. If you’re out exercising in the heat for long periods (more than an hour) you can lose electrolytes, so mix water and a sports drink 50/50.

2) To cool a burn, put ice on it and then cover with a greasy ointment.

~ Ice will do additional damage to burned tissue, and thick ointments interfere with healing. Rinse the burn in cold water until the pain stops, then leave it uncovered. ALWAYS leave a blister intact to speed healing.

3) Tilt your head back to stop a nosebleed.

~ This will just make you swallow a bunch of blood. Instead, pinch the nose just below the nasal bone and apply pressure for 3 – 5 minutes until bleeding stops.

4) Swimming on a full stomach will lead to cramps and drowning.

~ There has never been a confirmed case of drowning caused by swimming after a meal. When your stomach is full of food, blood flow IS diverted away from your muscles. Swimming may be uncomfortable, but there’s no danger … as long as you know how to swim in the first place.

5) Babies shouldn’t use sunscreen, and dark skinned people don’t need to.

~ Babies over 6 months should use sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. Even better, avoid exposing them to the sun since young skin burns easily. Dress them in light, long-sleeved clothing and brimmed hats, and apply 30+ SPF to exposed areas 30 minutes before going out in the sun.

~ Dark skinned people have more melanin (pigment) in their skin, so they don’t burn and turn red as easily as those who are light skinned. BUT they still get sun damage and are at risk for skin cancer.

6) Poison oak/ivy is contagious.

~ The rash is caused by an allergic reaction to the oil on the leaves, called urushiol. 70% of the population is allergic and it’s determined by your genes. However, the oil is passed easily from person-to-person and from object-to-person. Wash thoroughly  after contact.

7) Dark tinted sunglasses provide more protection than lighter tints.

~ UV eye protection is independent of tint. Look for the percentage of protection from UV A and UV B rays. The worst case scenario is a dark tint with poor UV protection. It makes the pupils dilate and allows lots of light in. Remember that sunglasses with good UV protection are important for the tiny kiddos, too.

Between the two of us, we’ve had four teenaged boys and believe us when we tell you that they are not exactly the most organized beings on the planet.

In many ways adolescent boys can be amazingly mature and responsible — no question about it. BUT when it comes to getting things together (including homework assignments) they are often a little slow on the uptake.

We remember looking at our son’s rooms during adolescence and musing that perhaps a bomb had somehow gone off in there when we were busy getting dinner ready. It can be a little scary. And if you take a look at their backpacks or homework assignments, it ‘s pretty much the same thing.

But it turns out that it’s not actually their fault (not completely, anyway). According to Anna Homayoun, author of That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, recent research has shown that the part of the brain devoted to multi-tasking does not develop as quickly in boys as it does in girls. And guess what? In order to do well in school, you must be able to multi-task. That really explains a lot.

So it turns out that organizational skills must be learned and practiced much more by the guys than the girls. And here’s where moms (and dads) can really lend a hand. To help those dudes get their acts together, Ms. Homayoun suggests that –

• they have an organized space in which to study that is permanent and free from technological distractions like cell phones, ipods, instant messaging, television, etc.
• they have a homework planner and binders for each academic subject
• homework time is scheduled and done at the same hour each day, no excuses allowed
• time is set aside each week for the two of you to go through their backpacks and homework folders in order to get rid of the junk and take notice of the remaining to-do items

Now that’s not to say that these strategies won’t be valuable for your daughters, too. They will, but just keep in mind that the boys will need them more.