 LENA NEWS: Every word counts Issue 7, April 2008 |
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Life with LENAReal testimonials from real parents - just like you 
Using the LENA System is such a fun thing for my child and me to do together. It's nice because we've started a new ritual: Reading, which is our favorite activity to do during the day. Another positive thing that has resulted from using Lena is that I have drastically reduced (and basically eliminated) the amount of time that my daughter watches TV during the day. The LENA technology is so advanced, yet so simple to use. This is where I believe the LENA System will become most valuable: It will truly help good parents become better parents, and it will give all children the opportunity to excel to their fullest potential. - Jennifer Banks, mother of Emily 
With a little practice I have been able to increase my word counts more and more each day. It does take practice; the LENA Resources page has been extremely helpful. I realize that I can talk to my baby about anything. Using the LENA reports, which are simple to read, I can correlate the times I had high or low word count with the activities that we were doing. It's good to know what activities help and what times of the day I need to spend extra time with my baby. Although I feel like I'm always trying my best, I like knowing where we need to improve. I am finding it very useful to have a visual representation of what my baby hears. - Carey Escobedo, mother of Adam Wanted: your unique and special stories about using the LENA System. Be featured in LENA News! Click here. Talking TipsFor a new, fun and easy Talking Tip of the Month, click here! |
Ask the Expert
Frederick Zimmerman is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington, and an internationally recognized expert in the role of early television exposure on children’s mental health and developmental outcomes. He is also co-author of the book The Elephant in the Living Room: Make Television Work for Your Kids. Q: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that parents should refrain from letting children under age 3 watch TV. But sometimes I just need a break! Any tips? What do you recommend as some substitute activities? A: Young children have a lot of needs and can be very demanding. Babies always seem to need to be held, fed, changed, and played with. When they’re tired, they don’t even just go to sleep on their own, but need to be rocked to sleep. Talk about high maintenance! Sometimes you just wish they had an off-switch. Well, they do. Television will capture their attention and keep them quiet for a few minutes, an hour, or sometimes longer. Don’t we all deserve to make parenting a little easier? Well, not so fast. Recent research suggests that using that off switch too much can be dangerous, and can actually make parenting more difficult in the long run, not easier. Kids who watch a lot of TV before age 3 are at increased risk for hyperactivity and aggression as they get into Kindergarten and grade school. So give yourself a real break and don’t use the TV as an off-switch for your child’s demands. Parents do need breaks, and a good break can allow a parent to return to parenting feeling refreshed and renewed. The trick is to plan for breaks that really help the parent and don’t harm the child. Predictable breaks are best because they give the parent something to look forward to and help keep things in perspective. We all love our children, but there’s no shame in looking forward to 20 minutes with a cup of coffee and the paper! The other side of the equation is to keep the child engaged in something constructive during the break. A co-parent can play a tremendously useful role here. When the other parent is not around to help, a babysitter or even a sibling can be a great resource. Submit a question for our experts: Click here. In the newsHave you heard?
Reading CornerBook of the Month |
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Wanted: Your unique stories, questions, and tips! Infoture, 5525 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80301-2820
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