Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch

Summer Jobs Give Kids More Than a Paycheck

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

Summer jobs can give teens valuable life experiences that help them transition to adulthood -- not just a paycheck, according to a recent news release from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Benefits of summer jobs include:

• Career exploration: Summer jobs and internships help high school students explore different careers that might interest them. They also provide opportunities to network and find future mentors.
• Financial independence: Teens learn financial skills such as budgeting and money management.
• Time management: Teens learn to manage their time, set deadlines and be accountable.
• Communication skills: Teens learn how to interact with their supervisors, customers and colleagues.
• Work ethic: Teens learn values such as teamwork, respect and responsibility.
• Self-confidence: Working in the real-world boosts self-esteem and self-confidence.

When looking for a summer job, suggest that your teen consider these factors:

• Is it a good fit? Look for jobs that align with your interests and skills.
• Is it flexible? Summer jobs should be flexible to accommodate a teen's schedule.
• Is there time for family fun? Teens will need to take family vacation plans into account.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/work-for-teens-2662484747.html

What's Hot? 07/28/23

Trending Today on Twitter - 7/28/23
 1. #fridaymorning
2. Haiti
3. Travis
4. Good Friday
5. #FridayFeeling
6. #FridayVibes
7. #FridayMotivation
8. The CW
9. Yeezus
10. Happy Friyay
Source: Twitter

Trending Today on Google - 7/28/23
 1. AC Milan
2. Joe Burrow
3. Women's World Cup
4. Randy Meisner
5. Utopia Travis Scott
6. Tyler Childers
7. Shohei Ohtani
8. Nancy Mace
9. Jalen Ramsey
10. Wordle hint
Source: Google

Top Five on Apple Music - 7/28/23
 1. fukumean - Gunna
2. Last Night - Morgan Wallen
3. Barbie World (with Aqua) - Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice
4. Try That In A Small Town - Jason Aldean
5. What Was I Made For? - Billie Eilish
Source: Apple Music

Top Box Office Movies - Weekend of 7/21/23
1. Barbie
2. Oppenheimer
3. Sound of Freedom
4. Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Source: Showtimes.com 

TV Shows Trending on Streaming Services - 7/28/23
 1. Special Ops: Lioness - Prime Video
2. The Bear - hulu
3. Justified - hulu
4. Justified: City Primeval
5. Futurama - hulu
Source: Reelgood

Trending Today on YouTube - 7/28/23
 1. Tyler Childers - In Your Love
2. Stephen Curry Is On Fire While Eating Spicy Wings
3. AMP FRESHMAN CYPHER 2023
4. Lil Yachty: "I'm carrying your conversation on your podcast"
5. Ice Spice - Deli
Source: YouTube

Netflix Top 5 TV Shows in the U.S. Today - 7/28/23
 1. Sweet Magnolias
2. Baki Hanma
3. Mark Normand: Soup to Nuts
4. Quarterback
5. Suits
Source: FlixPatrol

Arthritis Affects 220,000 Children and Teens, According to a New CDC Study

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by News-Medical.

In a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers combine survey data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) collected over a five-year period to estimate the prevalence of arthritis.

In the current study, researchers used parent-reported arthritis diagnosis as the case definition, where parents answered 'Yes' to the question, “Has a doctor ever told you that this child has arthritis?”

The study analyses included 173,406 children below 18 years of age. Both overall annual, unadjusted arthritis prevalence estimates and those stratified by patient demographics were generated.

Arthritis can affect children and adolescents of all races and ethnicities. However, according to the current study estimates for 2017-2021, about 220,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 in the U.S. had arthritis.

Among U.S. children and adolescents with anxiety or depression, arthritis prevalence was high. Likewise, an association was observed between arthritis and food insecurity, obesity, and physical inactivity.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends an age-appropriate diet as a therapeutic strategy for arthritis. Routine screening to identify youths who might benefit from effective treatment for anxiety and major depressive disorders is also advised.

Current pharmacologic treatments for arthritis include antirheumatic drugs, which slow down inflammation to preserve joints, and anti-inflammatory drugs, which treat stiffness, fever, and pain. Nonpharmacologic interventions for juvenile idiopathic arthritis treatment include physical and occupational therapy, which improves range of motion, muscular strength, endurance, and functional deficits.

Early diagnosis and treatment initiation might prevent permanent damage to joints, improve patient outcomes, reduce race/ethnicity-related health inequities, and maintain the quality of life of children and adolescents at an increased risk of arthritis.

Source: News-Medical
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230726/Arthritis-affects-220000-children-and-teens-according-to-a-new-CDC-study.aspx

Drinking Soda Linked to Obesity Among Teenagers in Over 100 Countries

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by StudyFinds.

Is soda and other sugary beverages the root cause of childhood obesity? A new study argues that there’s a strong link between the consumption of soda and obesity among teenagers in over 100 countries. The research, conducted across 107 nations worldwide, reveals that every 10-percent increase in daily soft drink consumption has a correlation with a 3.7-percent increase in the number of overweight and obese adolescents.

The findings highlight a strong connection between consistently drinking carbonated beverages and the risk of weight gain in adolescents. Niue, a small Pacific Island nation, had the highest prevalence of both overweight and obese youngsters, as well as the highest number of teens consuming at least one soft drink each day.

The study was based on school surveys across 107 countries, designed to measure the link between the consumption of sugary drinks and obesity among adolescents. Some of these countries have imposed taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, while others have not.

The survey, which included 405,528 school-going adolescents, asked about each child’s consumption of “soft drinks.” These were defined as carbonated beverages that typically contain sugar, including well-known brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, as well as unbranded drinks. The teens were asked about their daily consumption of these drinks, as well as their intake of fruits and vegetables.

The authors of the study found a consistent trend across all nations: every 10-percent increase in the daily consumption of soft drinks led to a 3.7-percent increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese teens.

The study was published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open.

Source: StudyFinds
https://studyfinds.org/drinking-soda-obesity-teenagers/

Link Found Between Childhood Television Watching and Adulthood Metabolic Syndrome

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

A University of Otago study has added weight to the evidence that watching too much television as a child can lead to poor health in adulthood.

The research, led by Professor Bob Hancox of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, and published this week in the journal Pediatrics, found that children who watched more television were more likely to develop metabolic syndrome as an adult.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels that lead to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Using data from 879 participants of the Dunedin study, researchers found those who watched more television between the ages of 5 and 15 were more likely to have these conditions at age 45.

Television viewing times were asked at ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15. On average, they watched just over two hours per weekday.

"Those who watched the most had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome in adulthood," Professor Hancox says.

"More childhood television viewing time was also associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity and lower physical fitness."

Boys watched slightly more television than girls, and metabolic syndrome was more common in men than women (34 percent and 20 percent, respectively). The link between childhood television viewing time and adult metabolic syndrome was seen in both sexes, however, and may even be stronger in women.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230724122711.htm

Seasonal Peaks in Teen Suicidality Occur in April and October, Research Shows

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by News-Medical.

The incidences of teen suicidality, including self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts, increased nationally between 2016 and 2021; were at seasonal high peaks in April and October, and were at their lowest when schools were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research at UTHealth Houston.

The study was published this month in JAMA Network Open.

In the cross-sectional study, researchers looked at 73,123 emergency department visits and hospitalizations that occurred among more than a million youth and adolescents each year for suicidality between 2016 and 2021. The national database is administrated by Millard Krause, DrPH, professor in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at the School of Public Health and co-director at the Center for Health Care Data.

Among these events, nearly 66% were females with the average age of 15. From 2016 to 2019, there was an increase in incidence from 760 per 100,000 to 1,006 per 100,000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a temporary decrease to 942 per 100,000 and then a jump to 1,160 per 100,000 in 2021.

"There was a linear trend where the increase was consistent from 2016 to 2019, and then a drop in 2020. However, the rebound in 2021 did not resume along that trend line, it actually overshot it," Scott D. Lane, PhD, professor and vice chair for research in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston said. "We found a post-COVID increase in suicidality beyond what would be expected, and it was particularly salient in females."

During pre-COVID-19 years and 2021, seasonal patterns showed peaks in April and October with a dramatic low in the summer months. consistent with the school calendar. However, for the spring of 2020, during the time when schools were shut down, April and May had the lowest rates.

Given the findings, researchers suggest interventions during the peak months of April and October, especially for adolescent females, could help in protect against seasonal increases in suicidality.

Source: News-Medical
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230719/Seasonal-peaks-in-teen-suicidality-occur-in-April-and-October-research-shows.aspx

What's Hot? 07/21/23

Trending Today on Twitter - 7/21/23
 1. Tony Bennett
2. Brian Harman
3. #fridaymorning
4. Good Friday
5. Gillie
6. #FridayVibes
7. #FridayMotivation
8. #FridayFeeling
9. Checo
10. I Left My Heart
Source: Twitter

Trending Today on Google - 7/21/23
 1. Lana Del Rey
2. Tony Bennett
3. Powerball
4. Sweet Magnolias
5. Kevin Mitnick
6. Jordan Addison
7. G Herbo
8. Rory McIlroy
9. Robert F. Kennedy Jr
10. Nigeria vs Canada
Source: Google

Top Five on Apple Music - 7/21/23
 1. fukumean - Gunna
2. Try That In A Small Town - Jason Aldean
3. Last Night - Morgan Wallen
4. All My Life (feat. J. Cole) - Lil Durk
5. Fast Car - Luke Combs
Source: Apple Music

Top Box Office Movies - Weekend of 7/14/23
1. Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
2. Sound of Freedom
3. Insidious: The Red Door
4. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
5. Elemental
Source: Showtimes.com 

TV Shows Trending on Streaming Services - 7/21/23
 1. Justified: City Primeval - hulu
2. Justified - hulu
3. The Bear - hulu
4. Full Circle - Max
5. Hijack - AppleTV+
Source: Reelgood

Trending Today on YouTube - 7/21/23
 1. I ate at every Margaritaville in the Country
2. EASY LEGO IDEAS when you're BORED...
3. Robert Downey Jr. & Christopher Nola Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions
4. Harry Styles - Daylight
5. Carlee Russell: Full police press conference
Source: YouTube

Netflix Top 5 TV Shows in the U.S. Today - 7/21/23
 1. Quarterback
2. Suits
3. The Lincoln Lawyer
4. Too Hot to Handle
5. Survival of the Thickest
Source: FlixPatrol

Parental Control A Key Factor in Smartphone Purchases For Kids

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MediaPost.

When parents select a smartphone for their children, a recent survey of 600 consumers revealed that 83% of parents say parental controls are extremely important when evaluating their choices. In addition, child restrictions are a key feature for 64% of parents, followed by durability (57%) and location tracking (55%).

Age counts: 78% of Millennial parents monitor their kids' texts and phone activity, while only 59% of Boomer and Gen X parents do so. Yet child safety restrictions top the list of must-have features for 65% of Millennials and 64% of parents in the Boomer and Gen X cohorts.

In addition, Safety/child restrictions top the list of important features for all parents – with 65% of Millennial parents and 64% of Boomer and Gen X parents citing this.

The presumed need to communicate with children during emergencies also motivates parents to let their kids take their phones to school.

And age? Only 12% of parents feel kids should receive their first phone between ages 7-9. Almost 34% believe  10-12 is the right age category for a first phone, while 31% actually think it should be even at ages 13-15.

Source: MediaPost
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/387129/parental-control-a-key-factor-in-smartphone-purcha.html

Board Games Are Boosting Math Ability in Young Children

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

Board games based on numbers, like Monopoly, Othello, and Chutes and Ladders, make young children better at math, according to a comprehensive review of research published on the topic over the last 23 years.

Board games are already known to enhance learning and development, including reading and literacy.

Now this new study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Early Years, finds, for three to nine-year-olds, the format of number-based board games helps to improve counting, addition, and the ability to recognize if a number is higher or lower than another.

The researchers say children benefit from programs -- or interventions -- where they play board games a few times a week supervised by a teacher or another trained adult.

"Board games enhance mathematical abilities for young children," says lead author Dr. Jaime Balladares, from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, in Santiago, Chile.

The findings are based on a review of 19 studies published from 2000 onwards involving children aged from three to nine years. All except one study focused on the relationship between board games and mathematical skills.

All children participating in the studies received special board game sessions, which took place on average twice a week for 20 minutes over one-and-a-half months. Teachers, therapists, or parents were among the adults who led these sessions.

Results showed that math skills improved significantly after the sessions among children for more than half (52%) of the tasks analyzed.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230707111629.htm

Political Apathy Spreads from Parents to Adolescent Children

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by EurekAlert!

Political apathy is growing in democracies around the world. Political apathy, also known as political alienation, describes feelings of separation and disaffection, a sense of powerlessness and an indifference to politics and political institutions. A hallmark of political alienation is a refusal to vote or participate in political activities. Adolescents and young adults are no exception to these trends. In many countries in Europe and North America, the youngest voters have the lowest participation rates.

Why are new voters so apathetic about politics? Many factors are at play. However, a new study from researchers at Florida Atlantic University focused on one of the most salient: parent attitudes about politics.

The study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, indicates that political disaffection spreads from parents to children. Specifically, parent political alienation predicted subsequent increases in adolescent child political alienation one year later for youth who described relationships with parents as warm, but not for those who described relationships with parents as distant.

Put simply, in households where parents and adolescents are close, parents transmit political apathy to their adolescent children, which may have the unfortunate consequence of contributing to low political participation among young voters.

The findings from this new study are important because they point to a potentially promising new avenue of raising political participation among young voters: targeting the political attitudes of those with whom they are close, particularly their parents.

Source: EurekAlert!
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/995716