A recent study, done by an international team of researchers, provides some of the best evidence to date that breast-feeding can make children smarter. The longitudinal study revealed that babies in the breast-fed (and encouraged) group scored significantly higher in the reading, writing, math and other subjects at school than those who were formula-fed or whose mothers were not encouraged to breast feed during the first 6 months of birth.

These results give a new impetus for the current moms and moms-to-be to consider breast feeding as it not only provides great health benefits but also raises their kids’ IQ. The researchers seemingly attribute the latter to the bonding between the mother and the baby. Although it remains speculative. (more…)

As the 110^th Congress begins to take a second look at the reauthorization of Public Law 107-110, we need to consider one very small population of public school children that is being left behind. The much needed NCLB (No Child Left Behind) act covers the immigrant child, the special needs child, the minority child, the child that lives in an urban school that is under-funded and under-performs, the child whose needs cannot be met in the school district for which he lives…. Or does it?

What if that very same child was also gifted, functioning two or three grade levels above his peers and soaking up new knowledge like a sponge? There are currently no provisions for such a child, nor is there funding, as the NCLB act has forced many states, including Illinois, to reallocate funds from gifted programming toward achieving better test scores among at risk populations [1]. (more…)

The next time you trim the fat off of a steak or pour all the grease drippings out of your frying pan, consider the starving children in the third world who could actually use that fat to improve their brain power. We live in the same world, but Americans and our third world neighbors have two varying views on fat. Americans loath it. Fat keeps us from having washboard abs and enviable waistlines, but (more…)