The journal Pediatrics says that 70% of American children don't get enough vitamin D. Any time your body lacks a vitamin, it will have health consequences. The human body is engineered to have a good balance of many, many things and vitamins are part of that mix. Your body naturally makes vitamin D when exposed to direct sunlight and for most Americans, it only takes 10-20 minutes per day to make a sufficient quantity. For the lazy shut-in folks, you can take a multivitamin or drink lots of milk, in which vitamin D is mysteriously added.

Could this be another example of kids spending far too much time in the house with their BFF the Xbox? Is it further evidence that the unhealthy eating habits of American adults is filtering down to their children?

But similar to the controversy about why the government flouridates our water, we ask why is vitamin D added to milk? Is it really that difficult for Americans to step out into the sun for 10-20 minutes a day or take a simple vitamin in the morning? Especially kids! Aren't they supposed to be outside, having a good time? We're doing our kids a disservice here. Be a good parent - kick your kids out. (Legal note: We only mean for a couple of hours to play and have a good time, not permanently. Unless they're old and leeching off your bank account. Then the boot should be more long term.)

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/03/vitamin.d.children/index.html

A seven-year-old boy decided to take the family car and lead local Utah police on a low speed chase to avoid...church. Yes, it could have been a dangerous situation, but since it wasn't, we think it was pretty funny. He'll be quite the celebrity NEXT Sunday!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/32216294#32216294

(article courtesy of Simple Marriage)

“I think we watch too much TV”  stated my wife.

“Er, uh, what?” As I hit pause on the Tivo. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Nothing” she replied.

This conversation has happened a couple of times over the course of our 16 year marriage. We’ve had times of limiting our television watching as well as times of going without cable, we even went a week several years ago without turning on the TV.

Now, beginning in August, we’re doing away with our TV for the entire month – perhaps even longer.

While this experiment will probably be no big deal for my wife – for myself, I’m a bit anxious about it. You see, I occasionally enjoy the vegetative state television can provide.

Going into this, I’m unsure about how to spend some of my new found time – especially on the weekends. The other anxiety I feel is the transition to no TV for our kids. They are used to morning cartoons and while our 4 year old will likely adjust with relative ease, I’m gearing up for some mornings of whining and complaining from our 2 year old.

So why I am writing about this here? In hopes that you’ll join us.

Whether you choose to give up TV entirely as well, or cut back, or do away with cable, or the news, whatever – try it along with us.

I’ll be tracking the changes we notice in our marriage and family along the way (you can follow along on Twitter). I’ll also occasionally have a post about our progress, where you can join in and share yours in the comments.

So come on – join us! If you don’t make it the entire month, no worries. Try it for a couple of weeks, or days and see what happens. Who knows what changes may come your way.

Let us know if you plan on joining in the comments below. Plus, feel free to share any pointers or ideas that may help us during this experiment.

Dr. Corey Allan is a professional relationship coach and a marriage and family therapist living in the Dallas, TX area amd founder of Simple Marriage. He has been married for 15 years and has two children.

Despite the recently scorching temperatures for most of the nation, it's hard to believe that our kids' summer is almost over and we need to start preparing them for a return to school. With so many different types of families today, that can mean many different things. But no matter what the circumstances, there are ways that you can be an involved (dare we say, ProActive) Dad for your kids going back to school. According to former Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, "...if America's Dads got as involved as America's Moms in their children's education, America's children would be studying harder and getting a lot more A's...Dads make a powerful difference in defining expectations and challenging children to do their best."

But we must give a brief mention to the elephant in the room. Dads are not the traditionally involved parent when it comes to dealing with teachers, tutors, and homework. This is your chance to shine. This is yet another opportunity to remind the world that Fatherhood is worthy of respect and you are doing your job to raise a bright, mature, and caring child.

1) Go to PTA meetings and parent conferences- if you aren't involved with your school's PTA (sometimes called PTSA - Parent Teacher Student Association), sign up. It's a great way to meet other parents who care about their kids, find out more about your child's friends, have positive interactions with the teachers and administrators who work with your child every day, and -for you single Dads- meet some wonderful Moms! You care about your kids, she cares about her kids - split a sitter and have a nice night!

2) Help with homework - It's kind of like changing a diaper. You're not expected to know everything (no parent does), but you better man up to this one and show that you're not afraid. Your child needs help with something and even if you don't know the answer, it can be beneficial to see that you are willing to learn with them. Your male bravado will still be intact and you created a bonding moment with your kid. Perhaps best of all, your child won't be afraid to come to you next time. This increases their chances for doing better in school, having high self esteem, and respecting Dad. Not a bad trade off for helping them figure out how to spell zylofone xylophone.

3) Work with the teachers - Dealing with problems after they happen isn't always necessary. In some cases, problems can be avoided altogether. With the school year beginning, take time to meet your child's teacher(s) and learn about their methodology, particular subjects covered in the upcoming year, etc. Each day your child spends in a bad classroom is wasted. You can not get it back. Make sure you are comfortable with the teacher, the curriculum, and the methods of education and discipline. Raise concerns if you have them. You're the Dad. You're the boss.

4) Volunteer in the classroom - This is perhaps the largest abyss of Dad involvement. Its not often that Dads are seen in the classroom or volunteering on field trips. In fact, most requests from the school specifically and only mention Moms. Well, you are part of the team that will break that mold. When teachers are looking for volunteers, put your name on the list. Having a male presence is rare and will probably be greatly appreciated. It will also give your child a sense of pride to see their parent being involved.

5) Healthy choices - What kind of food does the cafeteria serve? What vaccinations are required for enrollment? How often is the campus patrolled? These and others are what you should be asking. Its no wonder that America's kids are becoming larger and larger (often following the lead of their parents). Our schools have contracts with companies like Pizza Hut and Pepsi to provide nutritious and balanced meals. Sure, grease, fat, bread, sugar, and artificial colors are balanced. Make sure your kids are eating healthy. When it comes to vaccinations, each State has their own laws. In some cases, each school district. Know your rights! You can also refer to our article on swine flu to learn some things the media may not have shared.

Research has proven that involved fathers reduce the risk of their children repeating a grade, being suspended or expelled, and having GPAs below a 3.0. And these benefits are enjoyed whether the Dad is married, single, custodial, or non-custodial. Show Mom, your kids, and their teachers that you are a great Dad worthy of respect. Show them that an excellent education for your child is your priority and you're willing to make it happen.

Approximately 21,000 dead in the U.S. so far.
The youngest and oldest people are most susceptible.
Possible shortage of usable vaccine nationwide.
New emergency testing of unknown vaccines.

The scary part of these facts is that we're not talking about swine flu. We're not talking about bird flu. We're talking about the normal, annually occurring influenza virus that sweeps the world. Some get a "vaccine" (which makes hundreds of thousands of people get the flu anyway), some just take their chances. The "vaccine" they give you actually contains the flu virus. If you are a normally healthy person, there is absolutely no need for you to get a yearly flu vaccine. Assuming you have had the flu at least once in your life, your body is likely to already have antibodies to help you fight it. Just like the vaccine, there is no guarantee that you won't get the flu. But at least you're not being injected with it!

As we burn through the summer and get closer to and through September, you're going to be hearing a lot about the swine flu, especially when it comes to your kids in school. The regular influenza virus kills approximately 36,000 Americans every year. Yes, every year, about 36,000 are killed in the United States alone. If you haven't heard about the latest death toll from swine flu in America, we'll end your suspense: 302. In fact, there have not even been 50,000 reported cases of swine flu infection in the US, let alone 36,000 deaths! Why is the media so hyped up about this thing?

Responsible parents are informed before they stick a needle in their child. We're sure you agree. So here are the facts:

1) There are no vaccines for any flu that are guaranteed to prevent infection.
2) All currently available flu vaccines contain the actual flu virus.
3) The current flu vaccine can not give you any protection against swine or bird flu. They are different viruses.
4) The US government has approved "fast tracking" of swine flu vaccine testing. These methods are unsafe and that is why the US government is already promising legal immunity to the vaccine makers. (AP - Legal immunity set for swine flu vaccine makers)
5) Swine flu is most aggressive in targeting middle-aged adults, not small children or the elderly.
6) You have the legal right to accept or reject being given a flu vaccine.

Please make sure your doctor understands your position on immunizing your child against any form of the flu. The decision is yours to make and can only be made by you.