Sports drinks are very popular today, especially with your grandchildren. One of the reasons is they taste good. Under certain circumstances they can be a beneficial choice but they can also be hard on your wallet.
Sports drinks are primarily a combination of water, some carbohydrate (sugar) – for energy and a tiny bit of sodium and potassium – two electrolytes lost when sweating a lot. Manufacturers add flavor and color to attract buyers; sugar and flavoring make your grandkids want to drink more.
The popularity of sports drinks, however, results in reduced consumption of more healthful beverages (such as drinking water or low fat milk) among youth. The extra calories from sugar in sports drinks are shown to increase childhood overweight and obesity.
If a teen engages in team sports or other physical activities for less than an hour, experts say that plain cool water is all that is needed as a replacement fluid. Water is absorbed more rapidly than any other liquid.
The recommended practice for ample fluid replacement is:
► Drink up to 2 cups cool (40˚ to 50˚) water about 2 hours before competition or training.
► Drink 1 to 2 cups of water 15 minutes before the event.
► Drink 4 to 6 oz (1/2 to 3/4 cup) of cool water every 10 to 15 minutes during heavy exercise, practice or competition.
Sports drinks generally can be a better choice for exercise lasting for more than an hour or high-energy output sports such as soccer, cycling, tennis, basketball, etc.
Drinks with added carbohydrates can keep your grandchild from feeling tired in the middle of a 2 to 3 hour practice or game and improve performance. More than an 8 percent carbohydrate concentration in these drinks is difficult for the stomach and intestines to absorb during exercise and can cause stomachaches.
The relative high cost of sports drinks (as measured by cost per ounce) can be avoided by making the drink at home. Most “convenience” stores sell sports drinks for $.99 to $1.39. The product may sell in a grocery store for slightly less. But, a similar beverage with the resulting benefits can be made at home for just pennies!
Juices, such as apple, orange, or grape, are an excellent base for sports drinks since they contain both glucose and fructose sugars. Fructose is the naturally occurring sugar in all fruits. Sugars provide quick energy needed during extended competition.
The following recipes have all the benefits of a commercially produced sports drink:
Recipe #1 (Cost: only pennies)
► 3 tablespoons of orange juice OR 6 tablespoons of lemon juice
► 3 tablespoons of table sugar
► 3 pinches of sea salt
► 20 ounces of cold water
Recipe #2 (Cost: 40-50% less than commercial products):
► 1/2 of a 12 oz can of frozen orange juice or any frozen juice concentrate your child likes best
► 2 tablespoons lemon juice
► 1 tablespoon lime juice
► 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
► Water to make 2 liters
The primary cost of the second recipe is for the frozen juice concentrate and other juices which calculate to about $1.60. Compare this total to a 2 liter bottle of a name brand sports drink costing at least $2.50 and you’ll see how this thrifty and simple change of habit will save dollars, especially if there is more than one sports-minded child in your family.
These simple homemade sports drinks and tips for buying them can help you in knowing that you are following the recommended guidelines provided by experts for keeping the dangers of dehydration at bay for your grandchildren while playing sports under the hot spring and summer sun.
Janice Wade-Miller serves as a nutrition educator for The Children’s Campaign. She earned her master’s degree in food and nutrition from Florida State University. In her role as a health educator, she has assisted all age groups, from young children to senior citizens. Her email address is jmiller@iamforkids.org
Ranny Levy, Founder and President KIDS FIRST! / Coalition for Quality Children's Media http://www.kidsfirst.org
The film Dark Shadows opens this weekend to an eagerly awaiting audience of both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp fans. Based on the ABC daytime show which aired during the late 1960s which generated a cult following, what was taken seriously in the late 60s / early 70s comes across as comedy today. The majority of the movie is set in 1972 and incorporates music from the Moody Blues (Nights in White Satin) with appearances by Karen Carpenter in a TV scene, a cameo appearance by Alice Cooper and appearances by four of the original Dark Shadows actors including Jonathan Frid who passed away shortly after filming.
You should know that the film’s PG-13 rating is based on comic horror violence, sexual content , drug use, language and smoking. To help you make your decision, take a look at what one of our 14-year-old critics, Raven Deanney has to say about it. She rated it 6 out of 5 stars specifying the age recommendation of ages 13 and up. Here’s her take:
Dark Shadows is a hilarious movie about a man named Barnibus Collins, who is cursed by an evil witch when he refuses to give her his love. Turned into a vampire, Barnibus is locked away in a coffin for two centuries. Now, freed by unsuspecting construction workers, Barnibus finds that his home town of Collins Port has drastically changed. He must learn to fit into the 70s while protecting his family, restoring Collins Port to its former glory and riding himself of the evil witch, Angelique, who cursed him to be a creature forced to hide in dark shadows.
I absolutely loved this movie. Johnny Depp, who plays Barnibus Collins, did fantastic! Johnny is one of my all time favorite actors and when he teams up with director Tim Burton, you know it’s a film worth seeing. The cinematography was great because of the gloominess that you will often find in Tim Burton’s films, but they found a flawless way to thrown in the bright colors of the 70’s. The special effects were great too, especially in the end when Angelique’s skin started to crack; she really looked as if she was made out of porcelain. Something that did bother me about the visuals was that the blood in the film looked way to fake considering that it is a vampire movie.
My favorite character would have to be that daughter of the Collins family played by Chloe Moretz. One; she is my favorite young actress, two; she played a moody, mellow dramatic, angsty teenager perfectly. The acting in this film was priceless because there was a lot of over-acting, but not in a cheesy way, it was done very purposefully and it gave a wonderful comedic feel to dramatic situations.
I suggest this film for ages 13 and up because of sexual situations, mild drug use and language. On a scale of 1-5 I would give this film 6 stars because it far surpassed my expectations! Be sure to see Dark Shadows in a theater near you with all of your friends!!
Your grandchild is 10 or 11 years old. Do you take him or her to see The Avengers? Always a good question. The Avengers earns this rating for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout and a mild drug reference. How do you make a decision? Our advice: Inform yourself so you can make an informed decision.
As they say in comic books – “Bam!” “Ka-Pow?” While that’s not really what the superheroes of The Avengers have to say (they are much more articulate), their actions are fairly true to their comic book roots. KIDS FIRST! youth film critics Julianna Noone (age 12) and Talia Rashba (age 11) each give the film a full 5 out of 5 stars, and are quite articulate themselves on their reasons for the top rating.
“This action-packed and comedy-filled film is a movie that not only will appeal to comic book fans but all movie-goers, as it has a great storyline and a strong cast to support it,” says Julianna. And Talia is equally enthusiastic: ”This movie was absolutely fantastic! It is packed with a ton of action and humor and will transport you into an amazing supernatural world where it is all about the good guys fighting the bad.”
This movie was absolutely fantastic! It is packed with a ton of action and humor and will transport you into an amazing supernatural world where it is all about the good guys fighting the bad.
The story is about a group of famous superheroes that come together to defeat the evil Loki, who has stolen a powerful energy cube that he intends to use to take over the world. The superheroes include Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye. Each one has a unique and special supernatural power that they use to help them do their job. At first, the superheroes fight about being a team, but, eventually, they work together to complete the mission.
The Avengers could have ended up being a typical superhero movie, but it isn’t. Because there are so many heroes, it is much more creative and entertaining. The Avengers is packed with fabulous actors. Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. Just like he was in the Iron Man movie, he thinks he is better than everyone else, but luckily, he is really quite funny so you end up liking him a lot. Captain America (Chris Evans) is strong and serious, and he is always ready to get the job done. Actor Mark Ruffalo plays the ferocious green form known as the Incredible Hulk. He really stands out and takes over the scenes he is in. Superhero Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has some of the most incredible battle scenes. And Black Widow, portrayed by the beautiful Scarlett Johansson, is the one who convinces the others to put aside their differences and work with each other.
An interesting fact is that actor Lou Ferrigno, who has played The Hulk in almost every film since 1978, is actually the Hulk’s voice in the movie.
The Avengers is written and directed by Joss Whedon, who does an amazing job. He makes sure that there is a lot of humor in the movie and that the action scenes really grab your attention. The special effects were incredible. The superheroes change from their everyday selves into their supernatural selves in an interesting and fun way. The fight scenes and explosions are unbelievable. Also, there is a really neat headquarters for the agency that you just have to see for yourself!
Even though it is rated PG-13, I think kids ages 11, as well as all adults, will love this movie, especially if action is their thing. I am giving this film a 5 out of 5 stars and recommending that you see it right away!
Looking for a hero? Well, look no further, because The Avengers is in theaters everywhere! This action-packed and comedy-filled film is a movie that not only will appeal to comic book fans but all movie-goers, as it has a great storyline and a strong cast to support it. This movie will attract all demographics and has already set many box office records.
The basis of this movie is the world is under threat from another world, Chitauri, and there is a need for more than just all the world’s defenses to save it. The world needs the “Avenger Initiative”, which is a plan put together by S.H.I.E.L.D., an international peace-keeping agency, which calls for S.H.I.E.L.D. to bring together some of the world’s greatest heroes: Iron Man/Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr; Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth; Captain America/Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans; The Hulk/Dr. Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo; Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff , played by Scarlett Johansson; and Hawkeye/Clint Barton, played by Jeremy Renner. Nick Fury, played by the always intense Samuel L. Jackson, leads the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency. There is a great supporting cast as well, that rounds out a star-studded cast.
Now, I have watched all of the individual movie releases of the Hulk (both movies), Thor, Captain America and both Iron Man movies and loved them all, but, as most, was concerned whether they would work together to create a great movie. Well, they have done that and more, with a storyline that allows the main characters to, at times, shine on their own but at other times pairs them up perfectly to bring great balance to the story.
Josh Whedon, the director and co-writer, and Zach Penn, co-writer, do a great job in blending the action sequences in with very well-timed comedic moments. I also love how they bring so many different levels of conflict into the movie. There is brother vs. brother, between Thor and his evil brother Loki (played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston), the film’s antagonist. There is internal conflict each of the main characters has with themselves, as we watch Dr. Banner trying to control his inner demons. And there is the overall conflict of our world vs. the other world, called Chitauri.
There is also the conflict between the heroes themselves, which leads to many of the funniest parts of the film. Two of my favorite scenes are these parts of the movie. First, when the heroes first come together on the S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft, they are discussing the devastation that Loki has brought to Earth. Thor jumps to Loki’s defense and states, “He’s my brother,” to which the Black Widow responds, “He has killed 80 people in two days.” Thor responds, “He’s adopted!” and it’s one of the many laugh-out-loud moments.
My favorite character(s) would be the Avengers as a whole, as they each have their own unique and likable traits. I love the special effects, particularly the touch screen computers that float in the air, and the use of CGI in this film as it was worked into the live-action sequences. The CGI Hulk was especially well done and was much more human-like in this film and funny as well.
This movie is great for all ages and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a must-see movie for comic book and non-comic book fans, and I think many will see it more than once, as I know I plan to.
Before I had children, I knew exactly how to raise kids. I watched carefully as a family with 6 children, ages 1 to 13 sat quietly through an entire church service. Even the baby! Now there! THAT is how MY kids are going to behave, I decided. After all, I would have control over my children. Weren’t they my little robots to program as I saw fit?
Full of energy,Carolyn, my 4 year old, just couldn’t sit still or quiet. I remembered my mom’s trick! She use to give my leg a little pinch to get my attention and get me sit quietly. It was quiet, subtle and worked for me. It should work for Carolyn, right?
Sitting in the church service the next Sunday, Carolyn was full of wiggles and whispers. I reached over ever so subtly and gave her leg a little pinch. “OUCH!” she announced loudly to everyone around, “WHY DID YOU PINCH ME?” (I slowly slid down in my seat and wished I could disappear.)
Children are not programmable robots. That’s obvious. But what about this ‘control’ thing?
I assumed that ‘I could and must control my child.’ If they did something they shouldn’t, I would say to myself, “I’m losing control. I’ve blown it again!” Having thoughts like this is a strong clue that you have an unrealistic belief that molding your child’s character is your job.
I believed that if I did everything right, my kids would be fine. And if my child made wrong choices, I only had myself to blame. This way of thinking lets me pat myself on the back over my child’s good points and be ashamed of their failures. Now, I will be the first in line to admit mistakes I made as a mom. Admitting my mistakes is good, but carrying around guilt for choices my child makes is taking on a responsibility that belongs to my child for his or her choices…..which I cannot control.
Every person was created by God with a unique personality and purpose. My children are ‘mine’ only in the sense that God has temporarily entrusted me with them for love and care. I am to teach them, shape their behavior, discipline them, reason with and even plead with them. But, my child’s ultimate destiny was place in my child’s own hands by God. I cannot ever control another human being, even if that human being is my child. They belong to God and their destiny is to be decided between each child and God alone.
This does not take away my responsibility as a parent. But it teaches them responsibly for their own actions. It reminds me to daily place them in God’s hands and allows me to relax, drop the guilt and enjoy my children as they succeed and fail and learn and grown.
Grandmothers get younger with every generation. I have friends who jumped that line way back at the 40-year-old mark (and others in their 60s who are still trying to keep up with their first set of children, but that’s another story).
Because so many moms are busy raising their own young, grandma can often get overlooked on Mother’s Day. Some feel fortunate if they get a phone call or grocery-store greeting card. Is that anyway to treat our venerated elders? As a non-venerated elder, I have to say “Heck no!”
While it’s true 70 is the new 60, for the purposes of this article I’m going to assume we’re talking about the mothers and grandmothers of Baby Boomers. Here are a few ideas I came up with to help make the day special for grandma.
1. House Cleaning Party
Grandmothers with physical limitations might greatly appreciate a thorough housecleaning. You needn’t tackle this venture on your own, however. Put together a posse of those who willing to help out, equip them with the proper tools, and have at it. After all, misery loves company.
2. Old Fashioned Tea Party
Brits from the Victorian era had it right; A tea party is just the thing to cure what ails you. Besides, it makes everyone feel so ladylike that the conversational tone might just get lifted up a peg or two. Get creative with lacy invitations, ladyfingers and cucumber sandwiches.
Ditch the coffee mugs, however, in favor of some fine china. If you don’t have your own, check Google for a list of places that provide rentals or hit the dollar store for inexpensive teacups.
3. Shopping Spree
Giving money to your mother can feel so tacky, which is where gift cards come into play. Ask friends and family to toss a bit of cash into the pot, then pick up a Macy’s gift card — or another favorite retailer — at a discount from sites like GiftCardGranny. You can save up to 10-percent off the face value and get more bang for everybody’s buck. Then take her out for some good old fashioned retail therapy. My grandmother would have particularly loved this one as she was a hound for new makeup.
4. Record Her Memories
This is a present that will keep on giving for generations to come. Make a recording of Grandma detailing the family history and reminiscing about times past. Check out this article from CascadePatch for some guidelines, but remember one of the most important things is to just share the experience.
5. Organize a Party for Her Friends
Who says Mother’s Day has to be spent just with family. Perhaps Grandma would appreciate someone organizing her friends for a gals’ get-together…or perhaps just a gathering of family from all generations.
6. Technology Lessons
If your family is far flung, give Grandma a lesson or two in using Skype and other technology that will keep her up to date on everyone’s lives. Of course, not all seniors have difficulties in this area but, at the very least, she may appreciate a good computer debugging.
Kate Forgach is a Baby Boomer consumer specialist for Kinoli Inc. She has written about senior issues for 11 years as a Cooperative Extension specialist and for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines. She has been featured in USA Today, Detroit News, New Orleans Times-Picayune, New Yorker magazine, “ABC World News,” NBC’s “TODAY” show and many other media outlets.
One boomer woman, a mature female elephant maimed by a land mine, and a dream to invent a prosthesis strong enough to help the elephant live out her remaining years — that’s part of the story told brilliantly by Windy Borman, director/producer of the heartwarming documentary The Eyes of Thailand.
Imagine having so much compassion and love for elephants that your entire life is consumed with creating the first elephant hospital, Friends of Asian Elephant Hospital, and engineering the first elephant prosthesis. That is exactly what Soraida Salwala, a Thai woman, along with a mostly all-volunteer team, was able to do.
This documentary tells a story about love, compassion and wondrous deeds of dedicated people, and skillfully enlightens the viewer about the cruelty and vast use of land mines — not just in Thailand and Burma but throughout the world. It is impossible to watch this film and not see the need to eliminate land minds globally. Distribution of this compelling documentary should be funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and it should be shown in high schools and colleges to raise social consciousness and motivate the future leaders of the free world — and to show that nearly impossible dreams are achievable.
The film premiered at the 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival, where it won the Festival’s Official Selection designation as well as a Humanitarian Award. This thought-provoking documentary is being honored at other film festivals as well. At the International Wildlife Film Festival The Eyes of Thailand was awarded the Animal Advocacy and Animation merit award, and the Humane Society of the United States awarded it an ACE documentary film grant for its creation of a documentary that highlights animal advocacy.
The Eyes of Thailand is searching for distribution. For updates on the film’s progress and on when and where you can see it, sign up for their newsletter. Go to http://www.eyesofthailand.com/ and add your email to the “Join our email list” found towards the bottom of the home page. From the home page you may also choose to make a donation to the Friends of Asian Elephant Hospital (FAE) to help Soraida Salwala and her teams continue their inspiring work.
When you listen to my interview with the film’s director, Windy Borman, you’ll learn how and why she made this film and how people can help the work of the Friends of Asian Elephant Hospital (FAE).
Laura DeHaan,Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Child Development, NDSU
Over the past 20 years, increased attention has been given to the importance of grandparenthood. This newfound emphasis on grandparenthood and stepgrandparenthood is a reflection of the increased life span; adults are living longer and four- and five-generation families are more common. It’s also a reflection of the importance of grandparents to grandchildren.
Grandparent Influence
Grandparents and stepgrandparents influence their grandchildren both directly and indirectly. Direct influences come from face-to-face interaction, and indirect influences are realized through a third party. Consider the phrase, “It’s important to be there for your grandchildren.” Being there is a concept that can mean physically being present (direct) or emotionally being present (indirect).
When you make phone calls, attend concerts together or take them places, you are directly influencing your grandchildren. When your grandchildren have been confronted with a situation and think about you, knowing you will be available to support them and that you’re on their side, you are indirectly influencing them by emotionally being there. You are a role model to your grandchildren.
It’s interesting to note the variety of terms used to refer to the many roles grandparents or stepgrandparents play. For example:
Stress buffer
Watchdog
Arbitrator
Roots/family historian
Supporter
One national survey of grandparents reported that a variety of activities were engaged in with grandchildren such as:
Joking and kidding
Giving money
Talking about growing up
Giving advice
Discussing problems
Going to church/synagogue
Providing discipline
Taking a day trip
Teaching a skill or game
Watching TV together
Talking about parent/child disagreements
Several writers have emphasized that grandparents are very important to grandchildren. They are described as “significant others who have a great deal to do with one’s view of life.” The intergenerational contact reflects a high value for family connection. Grandchildren exposed to such contact are less fearful of old age and the elderly. They feel more connected to their families.
A North Dakota study found that stepgrand-children tend to have less contact with their stepgrandparents and consider this relationship less important than grandchildren do with grandparents. However, the children surveyed also indicated a desire for more contact with stepgrandparents. Being a stepgrandparent can be more challenging than being a grandparent because the role is less clear. As more stepfamilies are formed, more attention will be given to stepgrandparenting, and the same influences or benefits found for grandparents will no doubt be found to be as important for stepgrandparents.
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As they say in comic books – “Bam!” “Ka-Pow?” While that’s not really what the superheroes of The Avengers have to say (they are much more articulate), their actions are fairly true to their comic book roots. KIDS FIRST! youth film critics Julianna Noone (age 12) and Talia Rashba (age 11) each give the film a full 5 out of 5 stars, and are quite articulate themselves on their reasons for the top rating.
