“I’m not sure if this is gonna work. It’s only been four hours, and I’m already freaking out.”
– Local woman on Day One of the Paleo Diet

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Slack on

Worried about the dreaded summer slack? Well, harried parents and their summer-vacationing offspring can take a breather. Apparently, kids who spend more time in less structured activities – like playing outside or reading – are better able to meet goals without prodding from adults, according to a new study by the University of Colorado Boulder.

The study, published online in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, also found that kids who participate in more structured activities – soccer practice, piano lessons and homework – had poorer “self-directed executive function,” a measure of the ability to set and reach goals independently. 

“Executive function is extremely important for children,” said CU-Boulder psychology and neuroscience Professor Yuko Munakata, senior author of the study. “It helps them in all kinds of ways throughout their daily lives, from flexibly switching between different activities ... to stopping themselves from yelling when angry, to delaying gratification. Executive function during childhood also predicts important outcomes, like academic performance, health, wealth and criminality.”

The study is one of the first to try to scientifically grapple with how overscheduling may affect children’s brains. Munakata said a debate about parenting philosophy – with rigid “tiger moms” on one side and elastic “free-range” parents on the other – has played out in the media and on parenting blogs. But there is little scientific evidence to support claims on either side.

For the study, parents of 6-year-olds recorded their children’s daily activities for a week. The scientists then categorized those activities as either “more structured” or “less structured.”

Structured activities include chores, physical lessons, non-physical lessons and religious activities. Less-structured activities include free play, social outings, sightseeing, reading and media time. Activities that did not count in either category include sleeping, eating, school and commuting.

“This isn’t perfect, but it’s a first step,” said Munakata. “Our results are really suggestive and intriguing. Now we’ll see if it holds up as we push forward.”

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Oh, fudge!

In honor of Independence Day, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is sending a sweet taste of home to U.S. troops overseas.

During July, the local chocolatier will be sending one pound of fudge to the troops for every pound purchased.

According to RMCF Assistant Manager Ana Stevens, fudge holds up, even to the summer heat. So rest assured, it will melt in their mouths, not in their hands.