Top of the Morning: Disney to Produce Live-action Mulan Film

1. Disney developing live-action Mulan film

After "Cinderella" and the upcoming "Beauty and the Beast" live-action remakes, Disney is now also working to give "Mulan" a do-over. The 1998 version featured voice actors such as Eddie Murphy, Ming Na, and our very own Lea Salonga as Mulan’s singing voice. Reports said the studio has purchased a script, but no release date or actors tied to the project has been announced. (ew.com)


2. Number of kids eating fastfood on the decline
Between 2003 and 2010, the number of kids in the U.S. who eat fast food has gone down -— and so have the calories from some type of fast foods, according to a new research by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Calorie intake from burger, pizza, and chicken fast food restaurant also declined. The research showed that changes can be made, even if families eat out. (nydailynews.com)


3. Baby in utero appears to clap along mother’s song
Jennifer and her husband announced their pregnancy the best way possible. During an ultrasound, the parents-to-be captured images of their unborn child appearing to clap, then edited the video to make it seem like the child clapped as they sang, “If you’re happy and you know it…” Clap! Clap! (yahoo.com)

4. Quality wins over quantity time with the kids
There’s one less thing moms should feel guilty about. According to a new study that will be published in April in the Journal of Marriage and Family, the amount of time mothers spend with their children ages three to eleven has little relationship to how successful those kids would be later in life. Researchers found that the children’s success was more dependent on the mother’s education level and family income. The study also found that mothers today are actually spending more engaged time with their children compared to moms during the 1970s, even with more moms working today. (today.com)


5. A newborn’s gaze can show cognitive abilities
The old saying, “The eyes are the window to one’s soul,” could mean so much more now. A new study backs how much visual contact with a newborn can convey. Researchers from the Helsinki University Central Hospital found that a newborn’s ability to fixate on objects is related to the baby’s cognitive abilities. These findings support the idea that cognitive abilities are already present in a newborn infant. (sciencedaily.com)