With the winter holidays in progress, here’s something that comes in a small, free package. Charity and Jam Band delivers a sweet and languid version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” as a free download off their Web site. The new recording is part of the group’s new Song of the Month offerings and marks a happy return of a recording artist whose last album earned numerous accolades, including the Family Man Recommends title of album of the year for 2006. Welcome back Charity and the Jam Band and Happy Holidays to everyone!

New research reveals that certain dinosaurs were the primary caregivers for their young. In the NPR story on the study, “Yale University ornithologist Richard Prum says the new research shows that even bird behavior has links that go back over 100 million years. ‘What I really love about it is that these are representatives of the most ferocious and terrifying lineage of animals that ever was, right? Including close relatives of T. Rex and company,’ says Prum. ‘So it’s really ironic to me that these macho, bipedal meat-eaters were good dads.’ I love this kind of news. Can we get some T-shirts with a T. Rex wearing a Baby Bjorn?

A study done in England suggests that 21st century kids are losing out on the health benefits of nature and space because they do not get out enough. The report’s author, Dr. William Bird (nice last name for a nature lover), “has compiled evidence that people are healthier and better adjusted if they get out into the countryside, parks or gardens. Stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces, he says. Even filling a home with flowers and plants can improve concentration and lower stress.”

The study is all the more interesting because it shows that Americans are not the only ones to be so concerned about their children’s safety that they keep the kids indoors and in cars too much. I still struggle with easing the restrictions, even though I’ve written about loosening up as recently as last week and, more in depth, a couple of year’s ago. However, as winter vacation looms, it’d be great for families to try to go outside as much as possible, even if it’s just for long walks (if it’s not prohibitively cold!).

This sounds like something out of a sitcom. A Massachusetts couple were racing to the hospital with the prenant wife having contractions. In the midst of heavy traffic, the husband headed up a breakaway lane and was ignored by two state troopers before one stopped them. The officer made them wait while he ticketed someone else, then acted like he didn’t believe the couple’s reason for bending the law and gave them a $100 ticket. The couple eventually made it to the hospital and gave birth to a healthy child. Still, what happened to the days when police officers would escort pregnant couples to the hospital?

New research on sedentary, overweight children finds that exercise not only improves their fitness but also decreases their anger. The children in the exercise groups studied, ranging in age from 7-11, engaged in after-school activities for 20 minutes or 40 minutes daily for 10-15 weeks. Following the research period, both of these groups scored lower on the Pediatric Anger Expresssion Scale than the collection of students who remained inactive. The study also found that as a student scored higher in his/her fitness, he/she scored lower in anger expression. While the report maintained that overweight children are not necessarily more prone to being angry, it did acknowlege that these kids are often the victims of poor self-image, being bullied, and bullying others.

There are several helpful pieces to take away from this latest report on obesity in our children. One is that exercise may be just as helpful in improving an overweight child’s mood as it is in adults (who have been more widely studied on this matter). The other piece is that this is yet another reason for parents to make sure our kids get exercise if not daily, then at least several times a week for 20 minutes, preferably more. Kids feel better in body and mind both during and after they exercise, and the case may be made that the anticipation of physical activity, especially if it’s fun, may lift a kid’s mood before they do it.

In today’s world of indoor amusements (mostly of the electronic variety), it isn’t easy to get some kids to exercise. We are also dealing with our own fears of letting kids go out to play unsupervised, the annoyance of having to drive them to a park, and the diminished availability of PE at most schools. Many kids may be mostly fine, moodwise, without exercise, but most — including my own sons — need to blow off steam, aggression, frustration, etc., before they can do homework or just sit at a dinner table. Sometimes, my wife and I have been given to requiring a certain amount of play time outside before they’re allowed back in the house. This would have been a joy to me when I was a kid, so we have to learn how to condition our kids to run around more.

In this gift-giving season, consider jump-ropes, balls, basketball hoops, cool athletic shoes, and other tools of exercise in addition to those video games. And while you’re at it, go out there with your kids and run around!