Media Withdraw?

These days our children are exposed to an overwhelming amount of media.  A growing number of social media sites, a cool new TV series every season, and enough video games to keep them busy for a lifetime! Problem?  Some say so…

A new study from the University of Maryland finds that students are hooked on social media and cellphones, describing withdrawals in terms similar to those used by drug and alcohol addicts. That’s right… addicts!

The study from the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda, “24 Hours: Unplugged,” asked 200 students on the campus to give up all media for a full day and blog on private websites about their experience. Student reaction showed addiction-like withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, misery, and being jittery, the authors wrote.

How would your kids react if you took media away indefinitely? Would they go through withdraws? It may be time to intervene …  The Mikko Que can help you establish more balance in your home by providing a time management solution.

Need more information? Give us a call at 1-877-900-0132.

Kids & Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation…Yes, it is quite common in adults but recent research has shown that it is also becoming more common in kids. Why? Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that children ages 3 to 5 experienced more sleep problems with each additional hour of daytime violent media or nighttime TV they consume.

Most of us know that violent media leads to more aggression and less prosocial behavior in children but many do not know of the sleep deprivation associated with it.

Early childhood sleep disruption has been linked to obesity, behavior problems, and poor school performance. The solution? Parents should start limiting the amount of time their kids are spending in front of the TV and internet at an early age. Additionally, screen time should be avoided entirely right before bed (especially the violent media). Any media consumed in the evening increases difficulty in falling asleep.

Regulate your kids screen time with the Mikko Que … an easy-to-use timing system that enables parents to manage and monitor the amount of time a child may spend on a particular entertainment system. Call us today for more information!

 

‘Active’ Video Games Better for Kids’ Weight?

A recent study reported in  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that by replacing traditional video games with active ones may benefit kids.

In the study, 322 overweight 10-14 year olds that already spent 2 hours a week on their non-active video games were observed.  They split the kids into 2 groups. One group was given EyeToy (exercise) games and the other group kept playing their usual non-active games. The two groups were observed for 6 months.

The results showed the group that continued playing their usual non-active games gained between 2 and 3 pounds. The group that switched to the active EyeToy exercise games showed no change in their weight.

Is This a Real Solution?

Guidelines from The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups urge parents to limit children’s “screen time” to no more than two hours per day. Most people agree that less time in front of the TV is better. Playing outside is a much healthier pastime. It stimulates exercise!

Another concern is that we can’t always be there to regulate the amount of time our children are playing video games. That is where we step in.  We specialize in the development of media control solutions that make it possible for parents to manage the amount of time their children spend watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet.

To learn more about our solution visit– http://www.MikkoUSA.com

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/m2PsrE (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online May 18, 2011).

How are you Managing your Children’s Media Consumption this Summer?

Do you remember the good old days when kids spend their summers building forts, swimming in lakes, or selling lemonade for 25 cents? Gone are those days!  Now, kids are spending their summers immersed in the TV/video gaming or surfing the internet.

How do you get your kids unglued from the TV or internet? How do you get them to play outside?  It may be difficult if they are home alone with fulltime access to media consumption.  Nerds on Call have scoured the Internet for the best tips and tools to bring the relaxation back to summer vacation and Mikko Que was featured in their article! The Mikko Que takes the worry out of not being home to regulate media consumption during the summer…or really anytime of the year!

The Mikko Que is a time management system for all of your home media devices. It’s simple… Connect the Mikko box to your TV, gaming unit and Internet connection, then set time limits for each of your kids! This is a great way to set these much needed guidelines (without having to constantly keep a watchful eye) and help your kids enjoy what summer is really about…getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather, enjoying friends, and making memories!

Mikko Que featured on Good Morning AZ  http://www.azfamily.com/community/blogs/personal-technology/How-to-protect-your-kids-online-122518799.html

Internet Empowers?

No one can deny the many benefits that the internet has provided for us. It has essentially changed the world around us. It not only helps us stay connected to family and friends, but it also provides us with a plethora of information with a click of a button! But does the internet actually empower us?

Since the World Wide Web was invented two decades ago, we have been celebrating these benefits — and rightly so. But we’ve been paying much less attention to the negative consequences of our online lives. As we rush around the web gathering little pieces of information, we seem to be training our brains to be quick but superficial.

Food For Thought

Our kids are sent home with homework on a daily basis…right? Are your kids actually reading the material given to them? Are they researching and thinking for themselves or are they “Googling” or plugging the questions into the internet? This can be devastating to our future generations. We need to teach our children to slow down, and take the necessary time to soak up the valuable information being taught to them. We need to encourage the development of a strong, creative, and supple mind!

Excess Screen Time & Low Physical Activity—A Recipe for Cardiovascular Risk

Research is showing more and more negative consequences of children spending too much time in front of the TV, internet, and video games.

The Problem

Young children who spend too much time watching TV or playing computer games have narrower eye arteries than kids who are more physically active, new Australian research reports. Narrower arteries are a marker of future cardiovascular risk, and the narrower the vessels, the higher the risk, the experts said.

“Changes to the retinal vessels give a good idea of what is going on in the rest of the body, particularly the heart,” said Dr. Bamini Gopinath, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney, who conducted the research. “In adults, we’ve found that narrower retinal arteries signal increased risk of hypertension and heart disease.”

The Solution

It’s all about time management! “The data shows that replacing one hour a day of screen time with physical activity could help in minimizing the unfavorable influence on the retinal vessels,” Dr. Bamini Gopinath said.

Put the Plan in Action

We can help you put your plan into action with the MIKKO Que. It’s an easy-to-use timing system that enables parents to manage and monitor the amount of time a child may spend on a particular entertainment system connected to a lock box that interrupts video and audio signals. When the signals go off–your child will be forced to find something else to do. Perhaps play outside…

The study findings are published in the April 20 online edition of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association.

A Raunchy Game for the Nintendo Wii has Outraged Parents

The recent video trailer promoting “We Dare” (a game for Nintendo Wii) has stirred up a lot of commotion from parents of video gamers. The “We Dare” video trailer features two couples following on-screen instructions from the console. The girls are seen with the Wii remote dangling suggestively between their lips. Players then hide the “Wiimote” inside their pants before the others spank their backsides to control a flying cartoon character on the screen.

One version of the promotional video, already seen by 375,000 people on YouTube, ends with the guys in the video swapping partners and apparently going off to have sex. An alternative ending has all four romping together. The game is due for release on the Wii and PlayStation 3 next month.

Parents say the 12+ certificate is a disgrace. Laura Pearson, 52, from Birmingham, said: “I have a 13-year-old daughter. If I knew she was playing a highly-charged sexual game I would be appalled. “A spokeswoman for French makers Ubisoft said: “We Dare is intended for an adult audience.” She said the age rating was set by an independent European panel.

Do you know what your kids are watching/ playing? Would you let your kids partake in this video game intended for 12+? Watch the video and decide for yourself…

 

Resource: The Sun/News