An examination of 804 preteens found that engaging in 1.5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day is important for healthy bone development. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, July 2020 … [Read more...]
Sleep Tips for Kids
To help kids get a good night’s sleep, the National Sleep Foundation recommends the following: remove TVs, computers, and gadgets from your kid’s bedroom; avoid large meals before bedtime; develop a regular bedtime routine; set firm bedtimes and wake … [Read more...]
Don’t Let Children Wander Alone in Parking Lots
Observations of 125 young children and their parents as they navigated a parking lot revealed that half of the kids got out of the vehicle before an adult, 67% of children lacked proper supervision at some point during the walk, and nearly 90% walked … [Read more...]
Depressed Youths Less Likely to Exercise
An analysis of data from the 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health suggests that boys and girls with depression are only about half as likely to get regular exercise as their non-depressed peers. Preventative Medicine Reports, January 2019 … [Read more...]
Protecting Children After Pet Exposure
Classroom pets, such as Guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, or frogs can be a great learning experience for kids, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that exposure to animals does come with some risk. Because they are still … [Read more...]
Child Fever Guidelines
Fever is generally not a concern, but some cases do require medical attention. The Nemours Foundation recommends that you seek immediate care if your child shows the following behaviors or symptoms: won't stop crying; exhibits extreme irritability or … [Read more...]
Certain Chemicals Tied to Language Delays in Children
A new study suggests that children may suffer a delay in language development if their mothers come into frequent contact with chemicals called phthalates early in their pregnancy. In a study that involved 1,370 pregnant women in Sweden and the … [Read more...]
Leg Pain Commonly Precedes Spinal Pain in Children
In a study involving 1,008 Danish school children, parents reported each week whether their child had spinal pain, lower extremity pain, or upper extremity pain. The results revealed that children were more likely to experience an episode of spinal … [Read more...]
Connecting with Your Child
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that children who have a positive, healthy relationship with their parents are better able to handle challenges such as family instability, parental stress, or depression. To improve parent-child … [Read more...]
Siblings Can Ease Pain of Family Conflict
In this study, researchers interviewed children from 236 families and found that teens who had good relationships with their siblings experienced less distress when answering questions about observed parental disagreements. Study co-author Dr. … [Read more...]
Protecting Kids from Lead
Exposure to lead during childhood can cause lifelong learning disabilities and behavioral problems. To protect your family, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following: if your home was built before 1978, have it tested for lead; if … [Read more...]
Screen Time Tied to Speech Delay
An analysis of data concerning nearly 900 young children revealed that for each 30-minute increase in time a child spends on a smartphone, tablet, or electronic device at 18 months of age, they have a 49% elevated risk for expressive speech delay. … [Read more...]
Children Bullied in Fifth Grade at Risk for Substance Abuse in High School
In this study, researchers analyzed data concerning nearly 4,300 children from three larger cities in the United States and found a dangerous trajectory between being bullied at age ten or eleven and worrisome behaviors in high school, such as using … [Read more...]
How Often Do Children Have Back Pain?
Spinal pain is a common condition among children and adolescents. In this study, researchers monitored school children ages eight to fifteen for three years and found 55% experienced one or more episodes of back pain during that time. Though most … [Read more...]