NewsSquawk, December 11, 2007
Too many preterm births. The number of preterm births is rising steadily. It is predicted that for 2006 nearly 13% of all children born in the US are preterm - born before 37 weeks of gestation. There is a US Surgeon General conference scheduled in 2008 to address this issue.
In 2005, preterm birth costs the nation more than $26.2 billion in medical and educational costs and lost productivity. Average first year medical costs were about 10 times greater for preterm than for term infants.
Go retro on the playground! Big fancy playground equipment might get the children “ooh-ing and aah-ing”, but to keep kids fit schools do not need to spend a lot of money. To get kids moving, schools should encourage games that involve running and jumping.
Fancy playground equipment is fine for improving coordination and sharpening minds, but if you really want preschoolers to play hard, give them a ball, jump-rope or hula hoop, a study concludes.
Anyone want to meet at the play yard for a game of kickball?
Taking a break from baby-making? There are now even more options to ensure you don’t have an “oops” moment. Web MD has an informative article that explains long-term birth control options that are hassle free and more reliable than ever. There is even the option of permanent birth control without invasive surgery, called Essure. As always, consult your doctor to determine what is best for you!
December 11th, 2007 at 8:49 am
remember those big red balls that we used to play dodge ball with? i still remember when i got a tether ball for my bday! i love old school toys
December 11th, 2007 at 8:54 am
me too! that article totally brought back memories of kickball and when the weather was cold or rainy we would go inside in the gym and play a mean game of dodgeball! Those red balls were soft and so bouncy! And playing dodgeball the boys would have a contest as to who could hit a person the hardest and leave the biggest red welt!
At recess we also used to play 4 squares - bouncing that ball around. And tetherball too!
December 11th, 2007 at 11:50 am
my favorite playground game? kiss and chase.
Seriously, way better than the kids treadmills and elipticals and things I have seen them selling recently!!
December 11th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Our whole neighborhood used to play kick the can. I loved kickball at school, but I would try to hide in left field when we were on defense b/c I couldn’t stand the pressure - ha ha!
December 12th, 2007 at 5:55 am
In our neighborhood used to play a game called Rush and Smuck (also known as “Smear the Queer”, I’m sorry to say). You’d throw a ball in the air and whoever caught it would run like hell while everyone else tried to deck him. Once down, he’d throw the ball, and it would go on and on.
We also played Cigarettes. Every kid would take on a cigarette brand name. The person who was it had a ball, and would throw it up and shout out cigarette names until she called one that had been taken, and that person would run up and try to catch the ball.
It’s funny to me to remember how un-PC some of those old games were.
December 12th, 2007 at 7:56 am
we would play “spud” or “spike”. I think it was like mommasteph’s - one kid would throw the ball in the air and call out a name. that person had to catch it as soon as possible and all the others ran. once it was caught, they yelled “spud” and everyone else had to freeze in place.
then the person who caught the ball chose one other, usually the closest, and had a chance to hit them with the ball. If he hit them, they got the letter, if it missed the thrower got the letter. once you got all 4 letters of the word to spell “spud” … then you had to crawl through the “spanking machine” LMAO!!!!
December 12th, 2007 at 9:36 am
OH MY GOSH! We had the “spanking machine” but we called it the “hot oven”!
December 12th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I remember in elementary, in the classroom, you had to go through the spanking machine on your birthday. Can that be right or am I having a senior moment? :LOL