A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, April 16:
Study:
Teens Can't Avoid Risky Behaviors
New research suggests that intervention programs for teens may
not be as useful as hoped , because adolescent brains are not developed
enough to help them avoid risky behaviors. The study of adolescent brain
research by a Temple University psychologist notes that funding would
be better spent on more parental monitoring and stricter policies limiting
teen behavior, such as raising the driving age and tighter enforcement
of underage drinking. (USA Today, 4/4/07, by Jayson)
USDA
Proposes More Fruits and Veggies for School Cafeterias
A new U S Department of Agriculture proposal would require school
cafeterias to provide meals that are in line with the new US dietary guidelines.
The change would introduce more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to
school meals. (SF Chronicle, 4/7/07, by Squires)
Parental
Support for Gender-Variant Children
This article describes a dilemma many parents face when their
children want to engage in gender-variant behaviors, such as boys wanting
to wear girls' clothes. Experts say parents in these instances should
be supportive of their child's behavior. A list of resources for families
with gender-variant childre n is included. (SF Chronicle, 4/8/07, by Hoffman)
'Tween-Coms'
Focused on Reaching Preteens Nationwide
This New York Times magazine article outlines the new television
genre of "tween-coms" -- sitcoms starring preteens, for a preteen
audience -- that are most commonly found on youth networks such as Nickelodeon.
These preteen shows are an example of how adults are trying to better
understand and market to this age group, experts say. (NY Times, 4/8/07,
by Dee)
Study:
Asthma Care Should Prevent Symptoms, not Just Attacks
A recent study shows that only one in five children with asthma
has the disease under control, and that many still have everyday symptoms
such as wheezing or shortness of breath. New federal guidelines encourage
physicians to prescribe more aggressive treatments to minimize these symptoms
as well as prevent worse attacks. (AP, 4/9/07, by Neergaard)
Parents
Find New Ways to Set Internet Limits
This article discusses advanced web-filtering programs designed
to help parents decide what their children can access online. Despite
an increase in these types of programs, experts agree that it is still
important for parents to monitor where their kids go online, because more
savvy kids can circumvent some of the controls. (Christian Science Monitor,
4/11/07, by Peter)
Opinion:
Kids Need Social Skills, Too
Bruce Fuller, a professor of education and public policy at UC
Berkeley, claims that the strong emphasis in schools on academic standards
has left children with less time to gain many of the social skills they
need. He worries that children's motivation to participate and learn may
be decreased if they have fewer opportunities to make meaningful connections
at school. (SJ Mercury, 4/12/07, by Fuller)
Youth
Speak Out Against 'Alcopops'
Sweet-tasting alcoholic drinks such as Mike's Hard Lemonade and
Smirnoff Ice have become popular among teenagers, because they taste more
like soda than hard alcohol. Several youth counselors, legislators and
youth groups say the drinks encourage underage drinking, and they are
asking California's State Board of Equalization to reclassify the drinks
as hard liquor. The classification will impose stricter rules about where
the beverages can be sold, and will make them more expensive. (NY Times,
4/13/07, by Marshall)
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