A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Oct. 2:
Study:
For Academic Success, Turn Off the TV
The best way for parents to help their children excel in school is to
limit time in front of the television, according to a study by Johns Hopkins
researchers. The study also found that reading to a child every night,
ensuring they get at least eight hours of sleep, and monitoring eating
habits also lead to improved academic success. (Cox News Service, 9/25/06,
by Ramey)
Parents
Debate Merits of Vaccines
With dangerous diseases such as polio and smallpox virtually nonexistent
in the United States, many parents are questioning the need to vaccinate
their children. Some parents fear that vaccinations can lead to developmental
disabilities such as autism, and others don't seek out the injections
in cases where the risk of reaction to the vaccine is equal to the risk
of contracting the disease itself. (UPI, 9/22/06, by Wasowicz)
Mentors
Show African American Teens More Opportunities
Nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area such as 100 Black Men and the
Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce are working to mentor and
coach African American youth in poor and violent neighborhoods of Oakland,
San Francisco, and Richmond. The volunteers say they hope to show teens
opportunities that are available outside their neighborhoods, and some
teens credit the mentors with saving their lives. (SF Chronicle, 9/27/06,
by Johnson)
FCC
to Examine Possible Link Between TV Ads and Childhood Obesity
The Federal Communications Commission intends to study a possible link
between ads, TV viewing habits, and the increasing rate of childhood obesity,
then issue a report with recommendations on how industry and media can
work together to reduce the childhood obesity rate. Experts say the average
child watches two to four hours of TV every day and views about 40,000
ads annually -- mostly for cereal, candy, toys, and fast food. (SF Chronicle,
9/27/06, by Hananel)
Most
Uninsured Children Have Working Parents
The majority of the nine million uninsured children nationwide live in
homes where at least one parent works full time, and in over one-quarter
of the cases, there are two working parents, according to Families USA,
an advocacy group that promotes universal health coverage. While two-thirds
of these children qualify for government-sponsored coverage, they are
not enrolled, either because their parents don't know about programs or
the enrollment process is considered cumbersome. (SF Chronicle, 9/27/06,
by Freking)
Toddler
Tutoring on the Rise
A growing number of parents who are worried about the rigors of elementary
school are enrolling their tots in tutoring programs, academic preschools,
and/or sitting them in front of videos aimed at teaching even 15-month-olds
ABC basics. Some experts voice concern about this trend, saying that children
are being pushed too hard. (SF Chronicle, 9/28/06, by Lelchuk)
Researchers:
Cyberbullying on the Rise
According to an Internet survey conducted by researchers at the University
of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, 34 percent of the 1,400 young people interviewed
report they have been bullied online. Although bullying among children
and teens has a long history, the Internet has intensified the problem
-- especially emotional bullying, experts say. (The Capital, 9/28/06,
by Uhlenhuth)
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