Abbey's Gist

Today’s kids are growing up in a world where screens are a fixture from the moment they’re born — something no previous generation has experienced. Now a new  study  published in  Scientific Reports  shows a serious consequence of growing up in the digital age: The use of touchscreen devices is linked to sleep loss in infants as young as 6 months old Every hour infants and toddlers aged 6 to 36 months spent using touchscreen devices was associated with  15.6 minutes less total sleep. That number may seem small but considering that at these ages, “sleep is essential for cognitive development,” the study authors write, any amount of lost sleep is a big deal. There was also a significant association between tablet use and taking longer to fall asleep at night. (Data was collected from 715 UK infants and toddlers by researchers from the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at the University of London.) Given what we kn...

Ones a child is born, as early as age three, the child begins the adventure called Education, three years in the kindergarten/nursery school, immediately moves to the primary school where he/she spends six good years of his/her life with a lot of different subjects (as much as 16 different ones). then straight up the child moves to the secondary school (high school) where he/she spends another six years with so much subjects been enforced into the child's brain. Its of recent i just started asking myself , how did i pass through this stressful stages of my education life? when ever i see a 7 - 8 year old child going to school with a big filled bag that appears to be heavier than the child itself. 16 subjects for a seven year old child? waoooooo, please how do the teachers expect this young ones to know the sixteen subjects? well, adaptation i think it is. After spending the six years in secondary school, now he/she must face some examination bodies which will qualify the child for ...

Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country's largest armed group, ends recruitment of children as part of peace plan. Hundreds of child soldiers have been released by the Philippines' main separatist rebel group, continuing its commitment to end the recruitment and use of children within its ranks. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), one of the most powerful armed groups in the country, released the children on Friday as part of an action plan with the UN. Reporting from the disengagement ceremony in Lanao del Sur, Al Jazeera's Jamela Alindogan said Friday's release did not happen overnight. "This is something that started eight years ago," she said. "It required a lot of ground work, a lot of investigations, a lot of re-education, not just of leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, but also of parents who have had their children exposed to combat." In 2009, the group signed an action plan with the UN to end the recruitment of child soldi...

 Unhealthy environments are responsible for one-quarter of young child deaths, according to two new reports from the United Nations health agency, which reviewed the threats from pollutants such as second-hand smoke, UV radiation, unsafe water and e-waste. According to the latest information, polluted environments take the lives of 1.7 million children under the age of five. “A polluted environment is a deadly one – particularly for young children,” said Margaret Chan, Director-General of the UN World Health Organization (WHO). “Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways, make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water.” In one of the two reports, Inheriting a Sustainable World: Atlas on Children's Health and the Environment , WHO announced that many of the common causes of death among children aged between one month and five years of age are preventable with safe water and clear cooking fuels. These include diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia. T...

The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, will on March 9 graduate no fewer than 9, 295 national and higher national diploma students as part of activities marking its 25th convocation. Of the figure,  273 had distinction,  while 1, 223 made upper credit and  5,693 had lower credit and 2, 106 had pass. The Rector, Mr Samuel Sogunro, announced this at a media briefing in Ikorodu on Thursday that the 9, 295 comprised full-time and part-time students. “A total of 9, 295 students both national and higher national diploma students will be graduated on March 9. “They are from part-time and full-time programmes of the school,” he said. Sogunro said the 25th convocation tagged :“ LASPOTECH Alofp at 40” would also form part of activities marking the institution’s 40th anniversary coming up in November. He said the various programmes being run in the polytechnic were designed for the development of the nation’s economy. “Our vision is to be a polytechnic of excellence, offe...

Melania Trump has said the power of nature can help sick children recover, asserting that she is a "passionate believer" in the power of nature's elements in improving health and well-being. During a visit to a pediatric ward in New York City, Ms Trump told patients and doctors she believed nature could be "instrumental" to improving children's health. “I am a passionate believer in integrating and interpreting nature’s elements into our daily lives to create a warm, nurturing and positive environment," the First Lady said, according to a statement released by the hospital. "It is important to me that children can recognize, identify and express their feelings in order to promote their mental wellness and healing process." Her remarks came amid Donald Trump's plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act — a move that could strip health care coverage from up to 13 million children. During the visit, which fell on World Book Day, Ms Trump read a ...

  There have been calls for other mother-and-baby homes to be included in an inquiry following the grim discovery of a significant amount of human remains in Tuam,  writes Juno McEnroe, Political Correspondent . Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh O'Laoghaire said today that he will ask the the judge heading the commission of investigation into Church-run mother-and-baby homes to extend the inquiry's remit. Donnchadh O'Laoghaire The move comes after the shock revelation this morning that a large amount of human remains were were discovered at a Galway site excavated by the Mother and and Baby Homes Commission. The commission says it is “shocked” by the discovery in Tuam. “These remains involved a number of individuals with age-at-death ranges from approximately 35 foetal weeks to 2-3 years,” the body said. Deputy O'Laoghaire said he would be pressing for the Oireachtas Committee on Children, which he is a member, to ask commission judge Yvonne Murphy to come before it. It was an “ex...