I just read a startling fact - hearing loss among teens is up more than 30% from just a few years ago.  While the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is not trying to say that it is all from personal listening devices like MP3 players and iPods, it is trying to help teens and parents avoid additional hearing loss by their "Listen to Your Buds" campaign.    This campaign is about educating children and teens about the need to keep volumes coming through their ear buds at appropriate levels.  If you have wondered about how loud the music is in the music player your children use, the information from "Listen to Your Buds" would be important for you.

In addition to music players, children's hearing can be impacted by environmental noise, game activities, and injuries to the ear. Information about protecting your children from these causes of hearing loss are also available on the Listen to Your Buds campaign website.

As one who has experienced mild hearing loss from repeated ear infections as a child (and an adult), I can encourage all parents to take a stronger approach to preventing hearing loss in our children.  And watch for a presentation at your kids' school from the Listen to Your Buds team.

A recent study presented at the American Psychological Association conference confirms what fathers have intuitively known for years - that a close relationship between a father and a son blesses the son throughout his life.  In this study, one important finding was that men who reported having a good relationship with their father during their childhood years were more likely to be less emotional and more rational when dealing with stress in their everyday lives than those who had a poor relationship with dad.  Interestingly, the correlation between the quality of a relationship with mother and effective stress management was not as predictive.

The study's lead researcher, Dr. Melanie Mallers of California State University Fullerton, said:

"The role of fathers has changed dramatically from the time the oldest participants were children," added Mallers. "We do know that fathers have a unique style of interacting with their children, especially their sons. We need more research to help us uncover further influences of both mothers and fathers on the enduring emotional experiences of their children."

You can read more about the study and learn some of the other conclusions.  But most of all, get close to your children and they will have a real advantage in later life.

The first school in the state of Utah to adopt the WATCH D.O.G.S. program is in Magna, just west of the Salt Lake City metro area.  This article from the Deseret Morning News talks about the importance of engaging fathers in their children's elementary education.   WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the father-involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father figures in order to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security.  Learn more about the WATCH D.O.G.S. program and see if there is one in your area.  If not, you can learn how to become involved.

One of the most fun opportunities for service I have ever had was when I was the Cubmaster of my sons' Cub Scout Pack. It was part showman, part role model, and part organizer.   Learn what it takes to be a great Cubmaster and to have a successful Cub Scout pack.

My About.com colleague Terri Mauro, who is the guide to Special Needs Children, has compiled a great list of how parents can make the coming school year an outstanding one for their children. It is an amazing list. Among her suggestions:

• Dress for less stress
• Start a reading routine
• Teach your child to use an outline
• Streamline your morning routine.

Check out Terri's advice and find what works for you as the school year begins!

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, approximately 3,400 children were treated in emergency rooms in 1999 for injuries related to backpacks. Many orthopedic surgeons will tell parents to limit backpack weight to 20% of their body weight to prevent injuries. Many parents are considering the new wheeled backpacks. Here are the top five rolling backpacks for parents to consider.

I know that allowances are a big deal in many houses.  I even have an article about different allowance concepts and one that deals with chores.  But sometimes systems get a bit complicated for kids, and at least my kids would complain about the rules changing.  And more often than not, when I paid allowance money, the kids were more tempted to spend it at a local store than to save up for the thing they really wanted.

Last week, I got a suggestion to check out DigiBeanz, a new online service that makes allowances and kids earning money for stuff they want a whole lot easier.

So here is the concept.  Once you register for the service, you set up a list of chores, jobs or projects and assign a value to them.  One DigiBean is worth 10 cents of shopping value.  As your kids do the work and earn DigiBeanz, they build up an account balance. When they hit their goal and have earned enough for that video game or MP3 player they have wanted, they log on and go shopping.  When they make their "purchase" then you go in and actually pay for it and the child's DigiBeanz account is debited.  They track it all for you and then use Amazon.com to manage the store, fulfillment and shipping.  Then, the process starts all over again.

DigiBeanz offers not only chores, but you can also enter values for grades (so many Beanz for an A versus an A- versus a B+, etc.).   And if you want to encourage them to read, there is even a book club so that when the book you purchased for them is read, they can go online, cash in their DigiBeanz and buy the next one.

I have to admit- I really like this concept.  Record keeping is a breeze and kids are really motivated to keep their accounts current.  And keeping your end of the bargain and is easy, painless and safe.

Check out DigiBeanz and see how it might work for your family's allowance and chores system.  It might be revolutionary.

As I was growing up, I knew a family that was routinely a host for foreign students.  They thought it was a totally great experience and introduced their children to new cultures and ideas.  Their kids were certainly more culturally sensitive, had better understanding of foreign languages and simply had experiences "beyond their borders" than other families around us.

The EF Foundation for Foreign Studies is one entity that helps find host families for students hoping to study in the United States.  They have a 30 year track record of helping match thousands of students each year with host families.  If this idea appeals to you, then check out their program and see if it would be right for you.  They have a public service announcement video posted online which can help you better understand their programs.  While not every family has the great success my friends had,  it is worth considering as a way of helping your children learn more about the world around them.

More on hosting foreign students:

• One family's experience with a French student
• Finding student exchange programs
• Hosting an exchange student

As you are getting your elementary school student ready for the new school year, it's important for a dad to know what kids need for school supplies, and what are the best buys. Listen to what experienced fathers of elementary students suggest are on the must buy list for back to school supplies this year.