The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, wants kids under 13 to be allowed on Facebook, saying the youngsters should be allowed, for educational purposes, to access his social network.

In theory this sounds like a great idea, especially as children are the future and definitely more savvy when it comes to computers and the internet, but some groups — and law — would disagree with the plan.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) bans sites from collecting information from kids under 13. Parental groups also worry that child predators out there could possibly be detrimental to this plan.

Zuckerberg is tech savvy as well as business savvy, and opening the flood gates to children would certainly be good for Facebook’s bottom line, but at the same time, the question reamins: how can he stop those who are still out there waiting for something like this? For parents of younger children, they may not want their kids online.

What do you think of the idea? Comment below!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the recent past issued import blocks on temporary tattoos that do not comply with federal labeling regulations. Buyer beware: Make sure the ones you get clearly list their ingredients on the packaging. (Thinkstock)

For the most part, so-called temporary tattoos are safe for kids and grown-ups alike, even if they do contain a long list of scary sounding ingredients including resins, polymers, varnishes and dyes. But if they are sold legitimately in the U.S., their ingredients have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FSA) as cosmetics, meaning the agency has found them to be safe for “direct dermal contact.” The FDA has received reports of minor skin irritation including redness and swelling, but such cases have been deemed “child specific” and were not widespread enough to warrant general warnings to the public.

Those who are concerned anyway but still want a temporary tattoo might consider an airbrush tattoo—they are sprayed on over a stencil using FDA-approved cosmetic inks. The rub on these in the past was that they didn’t last very long, but new varieties are reported to last two weeks, and can be easily removed prior to that with isopropyl alcohol, just like their “press-on” cousins.

Another alternative way to go is henna-based tattoos, which typically do not contain any additives whatsoever. Henna is a flowering plant used since the days of our earliest civilizations to dye skin, fingernails, hair, leather, and wool—and it makes for a relatively natural—although monotone—temporary tattoo.

But the FDA warns consumers to steer clear of any temporary tattoos labeled as “black henna” or “pre-mixed henna,” as these have been known to contain potentially harmful adulterants including silver nitrate, carmine, pyrogallol, disperse orange dye and chromium. Researchers have linked such ingredients to a range of health problems including allergic reactions, chronic inflammatory reactions, and late-onset allergic reactions to related clothing and hairdressing dyes. Neither black henna nor pre-mixed henna are approved for cosmetic use by the FDA and should be avoided even if they are for sale in a reputable store.

Something else to watch out for are the micro-injection machines used by some professional temporary tattoo artists such as might be hired for a corporate event or a festival  While getting a microinjection-based temporary tattoo may not hurt, it does puncture the skin. The United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive recently issued a warning that improperly cleaned machines could facilitate the spread of infectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis. As a result, several types of micro-injection machines with internal parts that could carry contamination from one customer to another have been banned there. Such machines aren’t as popular in the U.S., but if you aren’t sure, it’s best to avoid it. The more familiar press-on temporary tattoos are a safer bet regardless.

Just in case you’re worried that the FDA isn’t checking, the agency has in the recent past issued import blocks on temporary tattoos that do not comply with federal labeling regulations; buyers beware that the ones you get should clearly list their ingredients on the packaging per FDA requirements.

CONTACTS: FDA, www.fda.gov; United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive, www.hse.gov.uk.

Five children, three brothers and two sisters, died in a house fire on Monday in Citra, Fla. that fire officials believed was caused by a space heater.

Trapped inside the house at 1760 NE 182nd Place were the five children of Krista Jordan, a night-shift manager at a McDonalds restaurant, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

They were Joseph, 15; Austin, 13; Shyanne, 12; William Jr., 8; and Trenity, 6.

“My babies!” the mother cried, until firefighters carried her away. “Someone get my babies!”

Citra is about 20 miles southeast of Gainesville.

Turn to the Times for more on this story.

Edited August 22, 2010

The floods in Pakistan have killed up to 1,500 and left six million homeless, the BBC reports. Death tolls will likely rise as officials expect the continuation of monsoon season to worsen Pakistan’s most severe flooding in more than 80 years.

Many men, women and children are still waiting for aid as groups struggle to traverse land submerged in muddy water.

If aid doesn’t reach some areas soon, the death toll could rise sharply because of an influx in the spread of water-borne illnesses. Dehydration is common, but can be avoided, if aid organizations start handing out filter bottles, like those made by Lifesaver.

Now I don’t have any connection to Lifesaver. But these floods reminded me of a TED lecture I watched late last year. In it, Lifesaver CEO Michael Pritchard pours a combination of dreadful bacteria-laden objects into a fish tank full of water. He then mixes it around to create a brown sludge, a color of water familiar to anyone who has either been to fresh water-lacking areas of our globe, or has seen them on TV.

Pritchard then scoops the water into his water bottle, pulls out a pump from its base and pushes and pulls it back and forth a few times. He then pops the cap and voila; crystal clear water. He even drinks it just to prove its safety. The audience reaction is priceless.

How does it work? Well, Pritchard says the advanced nanotech and carbon filters in the bottle are 15 nanometres, which can filter out 99.9 percent of viruses, chemicals and bacteria, including polio. The individual bottles have a lifespan of about  6,000 litres. The jerrycan can last 20000 litres.

Then there’s the Lifestraw, which a person can just pop into a pool of water and suck through. It’s good for about 700 litres. When the filter no long works, Pritchard says the filter shuts down on its own.

There are, of course, other systems like this in place, and they are no doubt being used to some degree by aid organizations. But they definitely can be used more. Lifesaver sent more than 1,000 bottles down to Haiti, and they’ve been helping a lot.

Access to clean water for Pakistan’s displaced is key to saving lives and reducing the number of illnesses. If aid organizations can just scoop up stagnant water and seconds later use it to hydrate a child or clean a mother’s wound, the situation could become less severe.

Even if it doesn’t have a huge impact, something isn’t nothing, and Pakistan could use the help.

ATLANTA — Every August 1, the Baza family is reminded of the luckiest day of their lives. After all, less than three years ago, baby Zach was struggling for his life.

Zach was born on October 14, 2007, a baby brother to four sisters. Jesse and Carmelita, his parents, were thrilled to have a boy complete their party of five.

But that excitement quickly faded. Less than a day passed before doctors told Carmelita that Zach would need surgery on his small intestine. The surgery went well, but 30 days later, Zach was back on the operating table. Two surgeries in his first month on earth.

Several months later, the blockages in Zach’s small intestine started to return. He couldn’t keep his food down.

In March of 2008, Zach hit rock bottom. His liver was failing and doctors told Jesse and Carmelita that their little boy, just months old, innocent and carefree, was going to die.

Just when Zach’s fate seemed set, a surgeon in San Antonio told the Bazas about a transplant team in Nebraska that could help their son. A week and three transplants later, Zach was finally healthy. His six-month birthday gift: a liver, a small bowel and a pancreas.

But troubles were not yet overcome. While Jesse, Carmelita, and their four daughters were thrilled, medical costs were mounting. When Carmelita lost her job, it only exacerbated the problem. So they reached out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

By this time, many San Antonians had heard of the Bazas plight, and with the help of COTA, they raised money to help pay for Zach’s transplants.

What is August 1?

August 1 is National Minority Donor Awareness Day. The number of minorities waiting for organs is disproportionate to the American societal mosaic. For example, African Americans make up just 12 per cent of the population, but account for 32 per cent of the kidney transplant list, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Every August 1, charities like COTA help to raise awareness so more stories can end like the Baza family’s.

For more information on COTA, or to read more stories like Zach’s, visit www.cota.org.

At 4:53 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti changed forever. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake rumbled 10 miles outside the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, causing the collapse of countless buildings, injuring hundreds of thousands, displacing more than 1 million and killing more than 100,000.

The international community was quick to respond to the plight of the Haitian, and citizens around the world gathered in solidarity to send whatever they could afford. Students at schools organized relief efforts through bake sales. Communities hosted fundraisers. Governments vowed to match donations put forth by their citizens. Celebrities hosted concerts. Hundreds of millions have been donated, and it continues.

But as we, up here, marvel at how generous a spirit has emerged during this horrible time, we remember why we’ve become so giving, and why we support the good, brave people of Haiti. These deaths were not caused by ill-advised war, but by a natural disaster that was unpreventable. Surely the number of dead should be smaller. But it isn’t, and now the Haitians will be forced to live rough lives. Many are getting ready to move to  a massive tent city just miles away from Port-au-Prince, and just a few hundred yards away from the mass graves that the corpses of their loved ones now call home.

This tragedy is, thankfully, uncommon. But when it happens it is devastating. But through all the destruction, despair and desperation, hopes have not been dashed. We hear of men and women being pulled from rubble 10 and 11 days after the quake. We hear of generous families adopting Haitian orphans so they don’t have to live in constant fear on the streets of the torn capital. And at night we hear the songs of Haiti, people gathered together chanting and reciting prayers for a better tomorrow. And that, they will receive.

All photos are courtesy of the American and Norwegian Red Cross on Flickr. The photos depict the efforts of the American, Israeli, Canadian and Norwegian volunteers, as well as local Haitians and Dominicans.

On November 20 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. Every year countless parades are held to celebrate the violations that have been overcome.

But often we fail to recognize those violations that still occur, not only in developing nations, but right here in the developed and modernized nations. The United States and Canada are not exempt because of their standing on the world stage, however violations in these two countries are often overlooked because of their reputations.

In addition, the horrible conditions in which kids live in developing nations can no longer be overlooked, especially 20 years after the document was drafted.

Listen here for some issues that affect children that you may not have known about.

It’s definitely time for action.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri News Bureau — It’s summertime, summertime, sum-, sum-, summertime! For some kids, that means little league, play groups, swim lessons, camping, summer school, dance class and many other activities. But hold on a second! All of those structured activities may be doing more harm than good. A University of Missouri occupational therapist says that toddlers and elementary-aged kids need unstructured playtime during the summer, in part, to help with their emotional and physical development. In fact, a lack of unstructured playtime might be the reason today’s young adults have trouble with problem-solving or critical thinking.

“Play is the vehicle for the development of many major life skills” said Lea Ann Lowery, a clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy in the MU School of Health Professions. “Children can work on simple, basic social skills such as taking turns, interacting with others and following directions and fine motor skills such as dressing, cooking and hand-eye coordination during play time. While some structured play is fine, overly structured play doesn’t encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”

Lowery also said that playtime doesn’t need to be expensive. Most children can develop their imagination skills with stuff around the house or old standby games that require no accessories. Empty boxes, plastic bins, cans and lids can become spaceships, drum sets or cages for plastic animals. Other activities include “I Spy” “Simon Says” or “Memory” that need nothing more than an outdoor setting or a deck of cards.

Anecdotally, Lowery is concerned about some trends related to how children are spending their free time. Some of those trends include children becoming reliant on certain objects “" usually electronics “" to have fun; lacking creativity in games or the inability to find other ways to play with toys; needing immediate gratification during activities; becoming too dependent on reinforcement; and becoming bored because they don’t know how to occupy themselves.

“Even children with developmental delays can benefit from unstructured play” Lowery said. “Play isn’t play if there are too many rules, and it’s important to allow children to make messes. Parents also can make playtime out of work time. Preschoolers love to be helpful and can cut fruit with a plastic knife, can help mix ingredients for a cake or clear the table. Many age-appropriate, summer activities “" both play and work “" can help children develop specific skills.”

Lowery said that becoming too focused on drills and practicing academic skills such as memorizing letters and numbers too early in development can cause some bad habits and frustration. According to Lowery, play is the foundation for many life skills and there is plenty of time to focus on academics.

Hunger and malnutrition are serious issues in African society. Several African nations shamefully boast outrageous starvation and poverty rates, however there are parts of one nation that are in even worse shape. India.

Labelled as a “national shame” by its own prime minister, India’s malnutrition rates are rising during unprecedented economic growth. Perhaps that is the problem, the middle class and rich get richer, while the poor stay poor and in some cases, get even poorer.

Its neighbor, China, is experiencing a similarly remarkable economic advancement. But they’ve used their new money to help reduce malnutrition in several areas, reducing the number of children under the age of five who are suffering from starvation to seven per cent, one of the major forms of measurement of malnutrition.

In India, a shocking 42.5 per cent of children under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition, a number that reveals a severe governmental failure.

As Somini Sengupta reports in the New York Times, there is no easy explanation for this problem. There are several contributing factors though: a disconnect between a large democratic government and the people who need it most, a lack of money being spent on children’s nutrition programs, and an overall negligent attitude towards health programs.

The Times reports that while India runs the largest child feeding program in the world, the program is severely flawed. India’s soup kitchens set up in low-income neighbourhoods help, but do not provide the nutrition necessary for pregnant women and children under two.

To its credit, India does ensure all children are immunized for preventable disease, however, malnutrition can make one more susceptible to diseases that could be prevented by nutrition. Malnutrition can also hinder development and growth for life, preventing Indian children from reaching their full intellectual and physical potentials.

India has a lot to do to fix its hunger problem, and it won’t happen soon. The first thing would be to make health a top priority among government again. The prime minister calls the situation a‚ ”national shame.” He can begin to reverse the trend, if only he could make his government operate like a democracy that acts on its words.

Calgary-based Peapod Toys has released a children’s MP3 player called the SweetPea3. It’s a fully-functional, yet remarkably simply music device that plays 256MB of MP3 or WMA audio.

The SweetPea3 is battery-operated with an A/C adapter for charging/plugged-in use. It’s meant to be used by ages 0-8 — school age children, toddlers and even infants.

“MP3 technology makes perfect sense in a child’s music player. With no moving parts, small parts or removable media, an extremely robust music player can be built and safely given to children of all ages, including kids under three,” said Peapod Toys President Dan Lemay in a statement earlier this week. “Every feature, and absence of feature, has been carefully designed with the child in mind,” Lemay said.

These “child-centered” features include the simple three button operation, hidden parental volume control, easy to carry size and hanging ring and the absence of a power switch or removable media.

Amazingly enough, it will run for about 40 hours on a single AA battery. The exterior is made of food-grade rubber, and the device syncs via USB.

“The SweetPea3 boasts a great sense of style, appealing to stylish parents and children who seem to be naturally drawn to “real” electronic devices,” the company said. “The customer feedback indicates that this personal kid’s music player has become the constant companion of many children in their daily routine.”

The player ships with pre-installed children’s music and stories from award winning artists Susie Tallman and Jim Weiss.

The SweetPea3 comes in blue and pinkish purple and can be ordered online for $89.95.