A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Oct. 30:
Struggling with a Child's Mental Illness
This New York Times front-page article tells the story of 10-year-old Haley Abaspour, who suffers from mental illness, and the challenges her family faces. Diagnosed with several different disorders, Haley and her family struggle with accepting and treating her illness, and said they hope telling their story will help other families in similar situations. (NY Times, 10/22/06 , by Belluck)
Pediatricians Identify Top Health Concerns for Children
Pediatricians who attended the recent American Academy of Pediatrics national conference identified what they considered to be the top three health concerns for children: flu vaccine shortages, bariatric surgery for morbidly obese teens, and medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. (The Eagle Tribune, 10/23/06 , by Bailey)
Column: Private Preschool Not Necessarily Better
While many parents send their toddlers to private preschools, studies have shown that children who attend public preschools fare just as well academically, according to this New York Times column by Hillary Chura. The author notes that she sent her child to public preschool not only because of the cost savings, but also because she felt he would be exposed to more diversity than in private preschool. (NY Times, 10/21/06 , by Chura)
Doctors, Parents Urge Infant Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders
Many doctors feel that the earlier they diagnose and treat a child's psychiatric disorder, the better off that child will be – even if that means treatment while the child is still an infant. Doctors have found disorders such as depression, social anxiety, and infantile anorexia, often before a child is even a year old. (WSJ, 10/24/06 , by Bernstein)
Flu Shot Safe for Youngest Kids, Study Finds
The flu shot vaccine is safe for babies and toddlers, and produced almost no side effects, according to researchers at Kaiser Permanente who conducted a study of 45,000 children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 90 children under age 5 die each year from the flu. (AP, 10/25/06 )
Stanford Lecturer to Speak About Student Stress
Denise Clark Pope, a lecturer at the Stanford School of Education, will speak about student stress at Palo Alto 's Gunn High School this evening. Pope started the annual Stressed Out Students conference at Stanford, which was co-founded by our foundation. (PA Weekly, 10/25/06 )
Poll: Parents Fear for Their Kids' Safety at School
Parental fear of their children's safety at school is at its highest point since 2001, according to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll. More than 35 percent of parents surveyed reported the fear, which experts attribute to recent incidents, such as the school shooting in Pennsylvania earlier this month. Statistically, experts say, a child actually is safer at school than at home. ( Sacramento Bee, 10/26/06 , by Roberts)
Preteens Not Satisfied with Low-Tech Toys
Many preteens have moved away from playing with traditional toys in favor of high-tech electronic devices, and toy manufacturers have taken notice. In an effort to win back the preteen population, the toy industry has come up with new products -- such as interactive talking dolls, robot-making kits, and art supplies that offer video and audio prompts. ( Hartford Courant, 10/23/06 , by Klimkiewicz)
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