Thanks to Linda Thomas, Seattle area “News Chick”, for this important website: http://www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov/talk-early.aspx 

Did you know that:

Between the ages of 9 and 13, children start to think differently about alcohol. Many children begin to think underage drinking is OK and some even start to experiment. It’s never too early to talk to your children about alcohol, and encourage them to talk with you.¹

Over 70% of children say parents are the leading influence in their decision to drink or not.”

Check out this site, sign their petition, and start talking to your kids about underage drinking!

Linda Thomas of My Northwest writes about a couple of social media networking sites that are geared for kids ages 8 - 13. ARRRGH! This is just horrifying!

Computers, social media, and gaming are this generation’s “boob tube” as far as they are being used to lull kids into a false sense of well-being. For kids this age, there are no useful skills to be gained by using these apps. Not social skills (despite the word “social” in “social media”) - in fact, using technology to socialize stunts social development (more on this in a future post on MyADDBrain.com blog). They don’t teach concentration or hand-eye coordination, as manufacturers would like you to believe.

In fact, much like the manufacturers of cigarettes, these people know that they capturing your kids’ brains and manipulating them. In some ways, they’re this generation’s pushers.

Our kids need to learn social skills with real live in-person people, and they need to develop motor skills by PLAYING sports! Or even something old-fashioned, like knitting!

I’m passionate about this after attending a seminar about Internet addiction which I’ll write more about in the next couple months. I’m just telling you - DON’T DO IT!!!

Here’s Linda’s article: http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=646&sid=301257