So, the new Grand Theft Auto 4 video game just came out and about 140 million copies were sold with it’s release.  That’s pretty crazy considering most movies don’t even hit that number.  I know you all are great parents and will not be allowing your children to play this “mature” game, but I wanted to discuss an article that I found on MSNBC.com.  Two Harvard  researchers wrote a book called Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games & What Parents Can Do.

They actually talked to the kids to see how they felt about video games.

“The pair reached that conclusion after conducting a two-year study of more than 1,200 middle-school children about their attitudes towards video games.” ‘”What we did that had rarely been done by other researchers was actually talk to the kids. It sounds bizarre but it hadn’t been done,” Kutner said.”

Click here to read more about this study & it’s findings.  It’s pretty interesting. 

Click here to purchase Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games & What Parents Can Do.

Image Source: blog.lib.umn.edu

Read the full article here. 

She has written a number of books on cooking & nutrition for babies & children:

The New Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner

Price: $21.21

This book is a revised version of her very first book The Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner.  It gives advice on ways to introduce new tastes and foods to your little ones without making them want throw it at you or across the room!  We all know that a parent’s time is precious so Annabel gives ways parents can freeze food ahead of time for faster cooking. 

Superfoods: For Babies & Children

Price:  $13.49

Annabel shows parents unique & creative ways of displaying nutritious food to children that will give them a foundation for good health & well-being.

Lunch Boxes & Snacks: Over 120 Recipes from Delicious Sandwiches and Salads to Hot Soups and Sweet Treats

Price: $9.84

If you & your child are tired of the same typical bagged lunch everyday this book is for you!  Annabel gives 120 healthy recipes & creative ideas for school lunches that will help your child retain the information they are being taught, increase their energy throughout the day, & strengthen their immune system (which is great because the amount of germs floating around the school yard is crazy).

The Toddler Cookbook

Price:  $6.02

This book is great because it basically teaches your children to almost fend for themselves when it comes to meal time!  It teaches fun & easy recipes that children can help out with in the kitchen. 

Click here for more great books by Annabel Karmel.

This book has been around for a while, but I wanted to share it with those who may not have heard about it.  Love You Forever is about a mother and her unconditional love for her son as he goes through the stages of growing up and becoming a man.  It really is a tear jerker people.  Reading this part (which is repeated several time in the book) always gets me:

“I’ll love you forever.
I’ll like you for always.
As long as I’m living,
My baby you’ll be.”‘

So let the tears flow and read this great book to your child!

For more children’s books click here.

Erica said it’s a really good book for children who are going to school for a full day and miss their parents (and vise versa).  She read the book to her class and gave her students a small laminated heart to keep in their pencil boxes to remind them of their parents’ love whenever they missed them.  She said, “I also sent one home for the parents to keep for when they every missed their child. Most, if not all, of my students still have their hearts.”

What a cute idea and from a great teacher!