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Make the World Safe for Children
Our Children Are Anxious -- And For No Good
Reason
Critical Issues for Children and Youths
Critical Health Issues for Children and Youth
Child Abuse
Children
& Divorce
Children
& Domestic Violence
Children & Poverty
Daycare
Disabilities
Juvenile Court
When School is Out
Injuries - The Leading Cause of
Death
Young Kids and Booze: Tasting
Common
Poison
Missing
Children
Newsbytes
Emergency
Numbers
Related Issues: Talking With Kids
About Tough Issues,
Children's
Books
Journals
- on Child, Emotional, Religious, and Sexual Abuse and Trauma
Periodicals
Bumper
Sticker - Make the World Safe for Children
Make the World Safe for Children
I had been working in the world for the last fifteen years "To be a
major factor in the elimination of male violence in the universe." A
statement, refined over time, where each word had importance and
meaning. During a weekend training I attended back in 1990, however,
my little boy spoke to me and my mission took a dramatic shift. It
became transformed, as my work has since then, into: "Make the World
Safe for Children". With that in mind, I ask you to see what part you
play in all of this.
The decisions you make everyday effect life as we know it on this
planet. Here are some things you can do:
Look at the way you are in the world, how you release or stuff
your anger, how you treat strangers, friends, loved ones, children.
Are you a good role model for children and other adults? What if
every decision and action you made, at home, at work and in the world
was based on making the world safe for children?
Take a moment to daydream: what kind of a world would that be?
What would it look like? Are you willing to actively help create that
world?
Look at your personal commitment to the environment, your health
(both physical and mental), exercise and the food you eat. Stop
putting off those decisions to "get healthy".
Copy this letter and mail or fax it to all your friends and
relatives asking them to do the same.
Send a letter to politicians at the federal, state and local level
encouraging them to make only those decisions that insure a world
safe for children.
Encourage children through school and church to send a letter (1)
to President Clinton asking him to make only those decisions that
insure a world safe for children and (2) to their parents asking them
to "Make this world a safe place for me in everything you do".
Use resources at your disposal - local bulletin boards at grocery
stores, Laundromats, the office, on computers, etc. to spread the
word.
Men and fathers do care. Do you? If so, get actively involved in
any way you can to see to it that change happens.
Think about it! Then do something about it - TODAY! It's not too
late! And, if you think of additional things to add to this list, let
us know. - Gordon Clay See also Bumper
Stickers
PLEASE COPY & POST
Our Children Are Anxious -- And For No Good
Reason (12/5/00)
My work is fueled by my conviction that we are both the healthiest
people in history and the most anxiety-ridden culture on the face of
the earth. Now here comes a study that really nails it; it's the
proof I've been waiting for.
"The average American child in the 1980s reported more anxiety
than child psychiatric patients in the 1950s," says Case Western
Reserve University.
Did you get that? A child who was under treatment for mental
disorders was less anxious than is today's normal child.
Analyses found that anxiety among children and among college
students increased a full standard deviation -- a statistical
measurement -- between 1952 and 1993.
The authors suggest that decreases in social conceitedness and
increases in environmental dangers are responsible for the rise in
anxiety. They also say that economic factors are insignificant. But
have environmental dangers increased? Only to the Chicken Littles.
The dangers aren't real; they're not affecting you as an individual
in a major way. What are real are exaggerated media reports, which
the audience exaggerates further and then spreads around. Then the
fear level among the public goes way up.
The media paradox is something I've talked about before. One
negative report that appears in print or is broadcast has much more
clout than does the positive testimony of fifty friends and
neighbors. One little terror that happened to one little person in a
faraway land looms large in the brain.
Objective evidence is a poor match for the dramatic reports of
impending catastrophe that the media pummels us with every day.
Now you know why kids like nothing better than numbing themselves
with TV and video games.
Source: Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, Vol. 79 No. 6 www.healthcentral.com/drdean/deanFullTexttopics.cfm?ID=45403&storytype=DeanTopics
Injuries - The Leading Cause of Death
Injuries are the leading cause of death among children 1-19 in the
U.S.
- In 1996, more than 13,000 children and adolescents in the US
died of unintentional (accidental) injuries, predominantly
motor vehicle crashes, drowning and residential fires.
- Unintentional injuries are responsible for more child deaths
each year than homicide, suicide, congenital anomalies, cancer,
heart disease, respiratory illness, and HIV combined.
Unintentional injuries to children are costly:
- Unintentional childhood injuries that occurred during 1996
cost society $66 billion in present and future productivity losses
due to premature death or long-term disability, $14 billion in
lifetime medical spending, and $1 billion in other resource
costs.
- For every fatal injury, approximately 18 children are
hospitalized and 233 are treated in emergency departments for
nonfatal injuries.
Most unintentional injury deaths to children can be prevented:
- Simple, proven interventions such as using child car seats and
bicycle helmets, controlling traffic in residential neighborhoods,
and installing smoke detectors in homes could reduce childhood
injury deaths by one-third, representing more than 4,000 deaths to
children in 1996 alone.
- The three key approaches to injury preventions are education,
environment and product changes, and legislation or
regulation.
Education to promote changes in individual behaviors can have a
modest effect in reducing the risk of childhood injuries.
- Education by health care professionals has increased
individual safety behaviors including car seat use, smoke detector
ownership, and safe tap water, at least for a time.
- Community-based education in schools, neighborhoods and
cities, often combined with economic incentives, has increased the
use of bicycle helmets and car seats among children, but programs
should be more widespread.
Environmental and product modifications that make children's
physical surroundings, toys, and clothing safer can dramatically
decrease the incidence of childhood injuries, though many such
efforts are not widespread.
- The use of child-resistant caps for medication and household
poisons, and limiting the number of pills in medication vials have
virtually eliminated poisoning deaths to children under five.
- Traffic calming to reduce or slow the speed of traffic in
neighborhoods reduces the risk of pedestrian injuries, perhaps by
more than 60%.
- Swimming pool fences and self-latching gates prevent roughly
40-70% of swimming pool drowning and near-drowning incidents in
young children.
Legislation and regulation are among the most powerful tools to
reduce childhood injuries, and most environment and product design
changes require legal action. Many existing laws, however, are not
fully enforced or have loopholes that limit their effectiveness, and
some effective laws have not been adopted in every state.
- Car seat laws in all 50 states increase the use of car seats,
which prevent about 70% of automobile crash-related deaths to
infants and young children, but most states do not require
appropriate protection for children between the ages of about 4
and 8 years old.
- Even though research has shown that bicycle helmets are 85%
effective at reducing head injuries, 35 states lack bicycle helmet
laws.
- Regulations requiring flame-retardant children's sleepwear
have substantially reduced clothing burns, though current efforts
to relax this standard may result in their reappearance.
Reducing the rate of child injury deaths in the future will
require the dedication of individuals to implement what we know
works, the determination of communities to create environments where
children can grow up safely, and the public and private dollars to
support injury prevention research and to disseminate effective
interventions. Source: The Future of Children Vol. 10 No.
1, Spring/Summer, 2000.
Newsbytes
Where'd That Come From?
"Under the weather,"butterflies in the stomach," "keep your chin up."
You've heard these expressions before, but what do they mean? You can
find the stories behind these (and many more weird sayings) in
Where'd That Come From?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk
Flu
Influenza is an infection that causes fever, chills, cough, body
aches, headaches, earaches, and sinus problems. Find out how to keep
the flu from getting you in this article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/flu.html
Chicken Pox
Have you ever had the red, itchy bumps of chicken pox? This article
for kids will tell you just what to expect from the pox, also known
as varicella.
Source:
www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/chicken_pox.html
The Brain Is the Boss
Your brain is the boss of your body and runs the whole show. Learn
more about your brain's business in this article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/brain_noSW.html
Sick School Syndrome
Almost every kid fakes being sick once in a while to get out of going
to school. But it's important to determine if your child is sick
about school or sick FROM school. If your youngster appears to be
sick quite often during the week and then feels great on weekends, he
or she may be suffering from "sick school syndrome" -- and the
syndrome can be dangerous. 
Source: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3606.2344
Children Of Divorce Need Expert Help;
Counseling Helps With Coping Skills
A new study shows that preventive programs -- counseling that teaches
kids coping skills -- can make a difference long-term in the lives of
children of divorce.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/357431.html
Science Offers Parents Clues On How To
Help Their Children Build A Good Life
Edward Hallowell is one of the happiest people you'd ever want to
meet. His eyes twinkle, his handshake is like iron, and when he
smiles, his chipmunk cheeks frame his upturned mouth like
parentheses.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/357404.html
"I need a CBC, STAT!"
How often have you heard this on a TV show? Know what it means?
You'll find the answer plus definitions to lots of other medical
terms in WORD! A Glossary of Medical Terms, created just for
kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/word/word.html
Why Do Eyes Water?
When your eyes water, they're making tears, just like when you cry.
Those tears help protect your eyes by keeping them moist and washing
out dust and other foreign stuff that gets in there.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/eyes_water.html
Bell's Palsy
If you've ever seen someone whose face seems half frozen and doesn't
move, that person may have Bell's palsy. To learn more about this
condition, read this article just for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/bells_palsy.html
Playing It Safe With Sports Safety
The biggest reason to be safe when you play is because it helps
prevent injuries to you and to other players. Learn all about sports
safety in this article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/sport_safety.html
If Your Child Has a Heart Defect
Medical knowledge, technology, and experience can offer accurate
diagnosis and treatments that allow nearly every form of congenital
heart disease to be corrected.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/if_heart_defect.html
10 Things That Might Surprise You About
Being Pregnant
Are you expecting a child, or do you have an expectant friend? Be
sure to check out "10 Things That Might Surprise You About Being
Pregnant" - and the more than 100 other articles in KidsHealth's
Pregnancy & Newborns section. You'll also find a week-by-week
pregnancy calendar that shows how baby - and mom - are growing and
changing.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/index.html
How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor
What are the best ways to communicate your concerns and questions to
your child's doctor? And how can you strengthen your relationship
with the doctor who plays a prominent role in your child's
health?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/talk_doctor.html
Many Parents Are Misinformed About
Booster Seat Use
Until they're around 80 pounds, 4 feet 9 inches, and at least 8 years
of age, children need to be protected by booster seats while riding
in motor vehicles. Despite the fact that booster seats reduce a
child's risk for serious injuries in a car crash, many parents don't
use them.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/booster_use.html
How the Body Works
Looking for movies about muscles? The inside story on the immune
system? Check out our movies on every body system to find out how the
body works!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/closet/how_the_body_works_interim.html
Cancer in Kids is Scary
Cancer is a scary word, but the personal stories behind the disease
can be pretty amazing. Read Amanda's Hodgkin's Story and then link to
our other cancer articles to find out more.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/index.html
Growth Disorders
Everyone grows and matures differently. Usually, this is totally
normal. A growth disorder, however, means that a kid has abnormal
growth - for example, growing a lot slower or a lot faster than other
kids the same age.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/growth_disorders.html
When Will My Voice Change?
You've probably listened to the deep voices of your dad or big
brother and wondered why yours seems to be just a bit squeakier. Read
this article to find out the when and how of why your voice
changes!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/voice_change.html
When It's Just You in an Emergency
You may never be part of a dramatic rescue, but don't ever think that
just because you're a kid, you can't help. Learn what to do when it's
just you in an emergency in this article for kids!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/emergency.html
Should We Help To Create Disabled
Babies?
Should genetic tests be offered to couples seeking to have a child to
allow them to select for disability? Many would see deliberately
creating disabled babies as the most perverse manifestation of
creating designer babies but, in this week's BMJ, Julian Savulescu
argues that there may be good reasons for acceding to such
requests.
Source: British Medical Journal,
www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/356229.html
Articles written by kids who
have different illnesses and conditions
Want to know what it's like to have a condition from the kids who
have it? Then take a look at My Journal, a collection of interactive
articles written by kids who have different illnesses and
conditions.
Source:: www.kidshealth.org/kid/closet/journal.html
Food Poisoning
Have you ever had waves of pain in your stomach? You might have had
mild food poisoning. Read more about food poisoning, its symptoms,
and what you can do to avoid it.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/food_poisoning.html
Homework Help
Finishing the last five long division problems of your math homework
assignment may be the last thing you want to do, but homework is
important. Read our article to find out how to get and give homework
help.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/homework_help.html
The Truth About Transfusions
Many kids' lives have been saved thanks to blood donations and
transfusions. But when do kids need transfusions and what happens
during a transfusion? Find out in this article written just for
you!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/transfusions.html
The 'Boy Parent Dilemma
This afternoon, millions of men will pick their little sons up from
school and hope to hear that it was a good day. Yet many of our boys
will have spent much of the day being scolded and punished, often for
doing nothing more than being boys. And with each of these mistreated
little boys--waving their arms and running toward us across the yard,
happy to be away from that place where everything feels so unnatural
and they somehow always seem to be doing something wrong--comes the
boy parent dilemma."
Source: Glenn J. Sacks, www.glennjsacks.com/the_boy_parent.htm
Kids Afraid of Life
It's not uncommon for kids to be shy, especially in new situations
like the first day of school. But what if that shyness persists? What
if it becomes debilitating? When should you seek help? Find answers
in our special feature,.
Source: my.webmd.com/printing/article/3606.2197
Basic Outdoor Safety Skills
Do you know how to wear a bicycle helmet? How about which number of
sun protection factor to use? If you could use a brush-up on some
basic outdoor safety skills, check out Playing It Safe Outdoors and
on the Road.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/index.html
Homesickness
Homesickness isn't like the feeling you get when you have a cold or
eat too much ice cream. It has to do with missing your home or
family. But there are ways to beat it.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/homesickness.html
How Do Pain Relievers Work?
Most pain relievers that kids take include ibuprofen and
acetaminophen. You swallow them, and the pain goes away. Our article
for kids will tell you how and why pain relievers take away the
pain.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/ibupro.html
Families Torn By Childhood Disorders
Finding Hope
She hit herself and threw horrible tantrums. For years, nothing
helped, and the hitting and biting and tantrums got worse. The blows
to her face at one time lasted so long and were so severe, she almost
went blind. Then a school social worker suggested Jessica be taken to
the Marcus Institute in Atlanta.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/346279.html
Effective Treatment For Children With ADHD And
Chronic Tic Disorders
Research has recently revealed an effective drug therapy for children
who have chronic tic disorders (including Tourette's syndrome)
concurrent with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As
many as nine in 10 children with tic disorders also have ADHD.
Previously, the use of medications most commonly prescribed to treat
children with ADHD had been discouraged for those who also had tic
disorders, either because their benefits had not been clinically
established or had been associated with a worsening of tics.
Source: American Academy of Neurology,
www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/346351.html
Did You Know...Skin is an Organ
The skin is the largest organ in your body! So take care of it, and
find out what things can go wrong in the Skin section of Kids' Health
Problems.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/index.html
What to Do When You Don't Like
School
Everyone has a bad day at school once in a while, but if you really
hate going to school, there are some things you can do. Our article
for kids will help you put the cool back in school.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/hate_school.html
Swimmer's Ear
You swam! You splashed! And now you have it: swimmer's ear. Read all
about what causes it, how to prevent it, and how to get rid of it in
our kids' article.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/swimmers_ear.html
Take a Look at Cooking
The trick to cooking is knowing the basics of the kitchen, what
recipes are best and how to find them, and how to get your creativity
going once you're cooking. Get your apron and check out this article
to get started!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/look_at_cooking.html
Treatment Of Bipolar Children
Encouraging
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic- depressive illness, is
classified as a major mental illness. Until recently, this problem
was not diagnosed in children and adolescents but is now being
diagnosed and treated with increasing frequency.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/348431.html
Teasting
Teasing is to be expected in any child's life. But here's how parents
can prevent it from creating emotional harm.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8271/25761/212080.html?d=dmtContent
Infection Can Spread Fast to Others
It's amazing how quickly a simple infection can spread among
children, especially those in school or day care. Is there a bug
going around your child's school that you need to know more about?
Check out KidsHealth's Infections section to learn all about common
and not-so-common childhood infections, including symptoms,
contagiousness, and treatments.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/index.html
Delayed Speech or Language
Development
Your child is 2 years old and still not talking. Should you take him
to a professional? Get the answers about speech and language
development in this article for parents.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Now Recognized In
Children
Researchers have long struggled to explain OCD's rituals, but one
thing they have learned recently is that for years the condition went
undiagnosed and untreated in thousands of children because OCD had
been considered an "adult" malady.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/350499.html
Wearing a Bicycle Helmet
Do you know how to wear a bicycle helmet? How about which number of
sun protection factor to use? If you could use a brush-up on some
basic outdoor safety skills, check out Playing It Safe Outdoors and
on the Road.
Source: kidshealth.org/kid/watch/index.html
A Kid's Guide to Adoption
Adoption can be hard to understand or even accept, but it helps many
people in lots of ways.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/adoption.html
Dealing With Bullies
Bullies are often hard to get along with and the things they do may
be hurtful. Find out how to be brave with bullies in our article for
kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/bullies.html
The Real Deal on the Digestive System
Find out what happens to the food you eat when you read this article
just for kids!
Source: websrv01.kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
Emergencies
Emergencies require quick and clear thinking. Learn about emergencies
and first aid in our special section devoted to it.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/index.html
Stuttering
Do you or does someone you know ever have a hard time getting words
out? Get the whole story on stuttering and other speech problems in
this article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/stuttering.html
When It's Just You After School
Just you after school? Get the lowdown on being home alone with our
kids' article - you'll learn how to stay safe, what to do if you're
lonely, and more.
Source:
www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/homealone.html
Infections may be catching
Infections may be catching, but there are things you can do to
protect yourself. Find out about flu, strep throat, and pink eye in
the Infections section.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/index.html
What Kids Should Know about
Alzheimer's
We all forget things once in a while, but Alzheimer's disease, a
condition older adults get, is different than normal forgetting.
Learn more in this article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/adults/alzheimers.html
What Girls AND Should Know about
Breast Cancer
Do you have questions about breast cancer? What is it? How is it
treated? Can it be prevented? Read our article on breast cancer,
written just for kids with questions like these.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/adults/breast_cancer.html
Surviving Stepsiblings
The loss of a parent or your parents' divorce can be hard enough to
deal with, but what happens when your parent remarries? If you have
stepsiblings or know someone who does, you'll want to read our kids'
article on surviving stepsiblings!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/stepsiblings.html
Who Do You Deal with Your Feelings?
Is stress stressing you out? Anger eating you up? Dealing with
feelings may seem easier said than done. If your emotions are running
wild, check out this section on how to deal with life's ups and
downs.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/index.html
Shyness
Being shy is a normal part of growing up. Do you want to learn how
you can be less shy or why being shy is a good thing? Read this
article for kids to find out!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/thought/shy.html
Friends can Make You Laugh and Cry
Friends can make you laugh and cry (sometimes even at the same time!)
If you have questions about friends, check out the My Friends section
and find the answers you've been looking for.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/index.html
Having Your Tonsils Out
When germs cause too much trouble in the tonsils, sometimes the
tonsils get taken out! Read this article to learn about what a
tonsillectomy is like and what happens afterward.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/tonsils_out.html
Memory Matters
Memories are a great thing. Do you know how to protect yours? Use
your head, and read our article on memory written just for kids!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/memory.html
Why Does My Nose Run?
You may have heard the old joke: if your nose is running and your
feet smell, you must be upside down! But when you were done laughing,
did you ever stop to wonder why your nose runs?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/nose_run.html
What Are Freckles?
Whether you like freckles or not, you might wonder where they come
from and why certain people have them. Read all about freckles in
this article written just for you!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/freckles.html
When It's Just You in an Emergency
You may never be part of a dramatic rescue, but don't ever think that
just because you're a kid, you can't help. Learn what to do when it's
just you in an emergency in this article for kids!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/emergency.html
See also Emergency
on this site.
Why Does Eating Ice Cream Give Me a
Headache?
That vanilla ice-cream cone has quickly given you a bad headache,
also known as brain freeze. If you want to know more about the pain
in your brain, read our article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/ice_cream_headache.html
Diets, Caffeine, Cooking
Everyone likes to eat, but are you eating the right kinds of foods in
the right amounts? Get the scoop on diets, caffeine, cooking, and
much more in the Fabulous Food section.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/index.html
Autism
If you've ever wondered what the word autistic means, then this
article is for you! Learn what autism is, what causes it, and what
life is like for kids who have it.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/autism.html
Getting Calcium On Young Girls' Radar
Ninety percent of girls ages 9 to 12 don't get enough calcium in
their diets, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Tessa
Mullins, 12, probably isn't one of them.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/22030/8896/350374.html
What Are Reflexes?
Have you ever wondered why your elbow or knee suddenly twitches and
moves right after you hit it against something? You didn't even try
to move it - it's like it did it all on its own! Read about how and
why reflexes happen in this article just for kids!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/reflexes.html
What Makes Me Sneeze?
If you just sneezed, something was probably irritating or tickling
the inside of your nose. Learn more about why you sneeze in this
article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/sneeze.html
Am I Too Fat or Too Thin?
Some people think that your weight is determined only by how much you
eat, but that's only part of it. If you have questions about your
body size, read our article for kids about body size.
Source: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/fit/fat_thin.html
Kids and Alcohol
If you're a kid, alcohol can mess up your life. Read this article to
find out more about kids and alcohol, including how to tell whether
you or someone you know has a problem.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/alcohol.html
CDC study documents salmonella resistant
to important drug for kids
Salmonella illnesses resistant to the standard drug used to treat
serious forms of the infection in children are emerging nationwide,
government researchers warn. Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46285&src=n49
Low-calorie diet may help children shed
pounds safely
Health experts agree that the burgeoning rate of childhood obesity in
the US has reached epidemic proportions. There is less consensus
about how to reverse the trend, which is expected to cause a dramatic
rise in the number of people who suffer from heart disease, type 2
diabetes and premature death in the coming years.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46200&src=n49
A 'real' head banger
There are kids for whom head banging is a compulsive disorder. If
your little boy does not have other symptoms, other behavior problems
beyond the head banging, I would assume that he's having plain
old-fashioned tantrums, which is what a kid does to get attention, or
because he is too young to handle his complex feelings of rejection,
jealousy and anger.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/drdean/DeanFullTextTopics.cfm?ID=46316&src=n49
Boys Not as Tough as Society Thinks
(12/22/00)
"Crying is for girls," according to the childhood taunt. But boys may
be more fragile than girls, suggests new research published in the
Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal.
"Boys are more vulnerable (than girls) even before they are born,"
Dr Sebastian Kraemer of the Tavistock Clinic in London, UK, told
Reuters Health. ``This is evident in the newborn boy who is
developmentally behind newborn girls.''
Perinatal brain damage is more common among boys, as are other
"obstetric catastrophes" such as congenital deformed genitalia and
limbs and cerebral palsy, Kraemer writes.
And the battle continues throughout life, suggests Kraemer, a
consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist.
After birth, boys are three to four times more likely than girls
to have developmental disorders--such as specific reading delay,
autism, stammering, and Tourette's syndrome--and twice as likely to
have conduct and disorders.
In addition, girls seem to be more academically fit than boys.
Results of a national secondary education examination taken by
16-year-olds in England show that more than 50% of girls obtained a
grade of C or above compared to roughly 40% of boys.
However, males ``tend to have superior skills in mathematic and
other non-verbal tasks,'' Kraemer points out.
In adulthood, men are more likely than women to suffer circulatory
disorders, diabetes, alcoholism, ulcers and lung cancer. In cases of
substance abuse--also more common among males--men may not notice
signs of illness, and are less likely to seek medical help when they
do, Kraemer states. Males are also more likely to commit suicide.
"Before concluding that maleness is a genetic disorder, it is
important to note that the foregoing data are embedded in social
values about normality," Kraemer writes.
For example, "male advantages in physical strength and spatial
skills were probably more useful in the past," he explains.
Kraemer asserts that his findings may have implications for the
upbringing of boys.
"If parents knew that boys were more sensitive they would not try
to toughen them upbut would realise that to make a strong and brave
man you have to give him sensitive care,'' he notes.
"Doctors, too, need to be aware that male patients may withhold
their health concerns for fear of appearing needy or may ignore them
altogether," Kraemer concludes.
Source: British Medical Journal
2000;321:1609-1612.
Children Can Overdose on Ritalin
With so many American youngsters on Ritalin--the drug of choice for
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)--parents may forget
that it is a strong drug with the potential for overdose.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=45961&src=n49
Kangaroo' Parenting in Brazil has Good
Results
"Kangaroo mothering," where mother and baby are in continuous
skin-to-skin contact, improves the care of premature babies in
intensive care, and even makes good financial sense for the hospital,
a Brazilian doctor told a medical meeting here
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46047&src=n49
Children's Anxiety at an All-time High
Looking back on "the good old days" through rose-colored glasses can
seem like a grownup's favorite pastime. But recent findings suggest
that in some ways, these adults may be onto something. According to a
study, children and young adults today feel more anxious compared
with their counterparts in the 1950s.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=45962&src=n49
* * *
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