A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Tuesday, Feb 20:
Dads
Have Impact on Girls' Perceptions of Weight
A Stanford study found that what fathers say concerning their
daughter's weight can affect whether she develops an eating disorder.
The study also found that parental behaviors regarding control of food
and pressure to be thin can raise the risk of eating disorders in adolescent
girls. (MSNBC, 2/8/07, by Reuters)
Experts:
Teens Need More Information About Sexual Health
Medical advances in vaccines and contraception mean that today's
teens should have better sexual health than any other generation, experts
say, but many teenagers aren't getting adequate sex education. Parents
and teachers are worried that sex education addresses only scientific
topics and leaves out other issues, such as relationships and respect.
Two foundation Information Program grantees are quoted: Dr. Claire Brindis
of UCSF and Dr. Nancy Brown of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. (SF Chronicle,
2/11/07, by Boerner)
Abstinence-Only
Education Increasing
Although research shows that abstinence-only sex education does
not necessarily lead to fewer cases of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases, the method is being taught to a growing number of students.
All but three states have accepted federal funding to provide abstinence-only
sex education, requiring schools to teach the idea that sex outside of
marriage will result in harmful psychological and physical effects. California
is one of the three states to refuse federal funding. (SF Chronicle, 2/11/07,
by Weiss)
Schools
Look to Outside Experts for Comprehensive Sex Ed
In an effort to offer comprehensive and accurate sexual education
in the classroom, many elementary and middle schools are inviting experts
to come in and discuss topics including puberty, sexual health, relationships
and healthy decision-making. This San Francisco Chronicle Magazine article
profiles a professor at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State who also teaches
sex ed at local schools. (SF Chronicle, 2/11/07, by Seligman)
Study:
Adoptive Parents More Attentive
A new study indicates that adoptive parents invest more time
reading with their children and talking to them about their problems than
biological parents. Researchers say adoptive parents often are more attentive
to children because they have had to work harder to become parents. (AP,
2/13/07, by Crary)
UNICEF:
U.S. Kids Rank Near Bottom for Children's Health Worldwide
A new study of children's well being in developed countries ranked
the health of U.S. children near the bottom. The U.S. ranked last in measures
of health and safety, which included rates of infant mortality, low birth
weight, immunization, and deaths from accidents and injuries. (AP, 2/14/07)
Kids
Insurance Program Often Used for Adults
Several years ago, the federal government issued waivers for
its State Children's Health Insurance Program to ex pand coverage to parents
and pregnant women. Now facing a budget shortfal l, lawmakers are debating
whether all of the money supplied by the 10-year-old program should serve
children. (AP, 2/14/07, by Freking)
Report:
California Needs More Preschool Space
More than 100,000 California children cannot attend preschool
due to lack of classroom space, according to a recent study on preschool
availability by the Advancement Project Los Angeles. (MP Almanac, 2/15/07
)
Palo
Alto Schools Look for Leader to Focus on Emotional Health Parents
and Palo Alto school board officials are searching for a new superintendent
who will focus not only on academics, but also the emotional health of
students. The school board said it is looking for a candidate who has
experience working with high-achieving school districts, and can find
a balance between academic excellence and social-emotional health. (PA
Daily, 2/16/07, by Peterson)
Getting
Over the Fourth-Grade Slump
Educators are concerned that many children become disengaged
from school and show less interest in reading around the time they reach
fourth grade. Explanations for the decline in reading include increasingly
difficult materials and a wider array of after-school activities, experts
say. (Newsweek, 2/19/07, by Tyre)
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