A roundup of recent newspaper stories relating to preteen health...

2005:
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Oct. | Nov.

2004:
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

2003:
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

NOVEMBER 2005

Study: Smoking in Movies Increases Odds that Preteens Try Cigarettes
Kids who see actors smoke in movies are more likely to light up themselves, according to researchers at Dartmouth Medical School. A study of more than 6,500 children ages 10 to 14 found that 38 percent of kids who experimented with cigarettes tried them because they saw smoking in a movie, and that the risk of a child trying smoking increased with exposure to films that showed it. (Bloomberg, 11/7/05, by Larkin)  

CHP Brings Drunk Driving Program to Middle Schools
Faced with statistics that show some children take their first sip of alcohol as early as age 12, the California Highway Patrol has expanded its anti-drunk driving campaign to middle schools. The program, which aims to educate preteens about the subject before they get their drivers' licenses, recently made its Bay Area debut in a Fremont middle school. (SJ Mercury, 11/18/05, by Richards)

Kids Trade Dolls for Tech Toys
Children of increasingly younger ages would rather have iPods, digital cameras, or laptops than toys such as dolls or trains during this year's holiday season. Preteens are playing with computers, CD, DVD, and MP3 players, and digital cameras all before age 11, according to a survey of preteens ages 8 to 12 conducted by New York market research firm NPD Funworld. The firm found that the market for electronic items aimed at preteens grew 46 percent in 2004. (WSJ, 11/28/05, by Kang)

Anorexia Affecting Younger Girls
Many doctors have found that the age of their youngest female anorexia patients has declined in recent years from 13 to 9. Experts aren't sure why the disorder is increasingly affecting younger girls, but agree that the best treatment involves the entire family. (Newsweek, 12/5/05, by Tyre)

Sacramento Foundation Funds Youth Programs
The Sierra Health Foundation is offering a new funding program called "REACH: Connecting Communities and Youth for a Healthy Future" for 10- to 15-year-old children in the Sacramento area. The foundation has identified this age group as a time of growing independence and that the proper support can help youth make decisions to avoid risky behaviors and become healthy adults. (California Healthfunders, 11/30/05)

Doctors Worry About Parent Resistance to STD Vaccine
Vaccines to prevent some sexually transmitted diseases may be available in the U.S. next year, and some doctors say they will recommend the shots for children as young as 9 , but worry that parents may not want their children to learn about the diseases at such a young age. Vaccine developers and other experts say it is best to vaccinate against the diseases before a child is sexually active. (WSJ, 11/30/05, by Landro)

OCTOBER 2005

Middle Schools Move Toward a More Academic Focus
Although seventh grade has traditionally been a time for children to mature emotionally, with emphasis placed on self-esteem and social interaction, some schools are moving toward a more focused academic approach. Some school administrators say the curriculum has included too much on self-esteem in the seventh grade, and want to challenge the students to reach new heights academically. (Washington Post, 10/4/05, by Matthews)

Teen Sex Survey Reveals Age Gap
According to a survey of teen sexual experiences, 25 percent of girls and 10 percent of boys said their first sexual experience was with a person at least three years older. The analysis, conducted by Child Trends, suggests that younger teens are vulnerable, and are less likely to use contraception when with an older partner. (Chicago Sun-Times, 10/6/05, by Herrmann)

Local Preteen Girls Enjoy Window into Math, Science
NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View last week hosted a science festival for girls in grades five through eight, designed to encourage interest in science and math. The girls heard from astronaut Sally Ride and attended workshops by professional women in the field. (Mountain View Voice, 10/7/05, by Bernard)

AUGUST 2005

Wardrobe Changes Help Preteens Find Their Identity
This article profiling preteens focuses on how tweens' clothing choices define who they are and how they want to be perceived. Both girls and boys often are looking for a way to define themselves, say fashion experts, and changes in fashion and other aspects of outward appearance can help them do that. (AP, 8/12/05)

JULY 2005

Study: Preteens Do Better in K-8 Setting
A study of middle school-age students in the Milwaukee Public Schools district has found that the students did better academically, had higher attendance rates, and lower suspension rates when they attended K-8 schools, rather than separate middle schools. The district decided to pursue the study after the number of K-8 schools in the district increased six-fold, largely due to parent demand. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/29/05, by Carr)

Report: 9-Year-Olds Improve Most on National Math, Reading Test
The 2004 National Assessment of Educational Progress, a test given to roughly 28,000 9, 13, and 17-year-olds, shows that 9-year-olds have improved in math and reading more than the older students. The test's results also show that the achievement gaps between white students and black and Hispanic students are narrowing. (SJ Mercury, 7/15/05, by Barnett)

JUNE 2005

Younger Teens More Likely to Become Addicted, Studies Find
This New York Times story notes studies that found that the older teens are, the less likely they are to become addicted to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. Preteens can become addicted with the first cigarette, while it may take an older teen longer to become addicted. Researchers also noted that the earlier a child uses tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, the harder it will be to quit later in life. (NY Times, 6/20/05, by Leimbach)

Preteens: Middle School Not as Bad as Expected
This Baltimore Sun story offers a preteen's view of the stresses associated with sixth grade. For many students, sixth grade is the first time they experience several different classrooms and teachers throughout the day. The students in this story concluded that middle school isn't nearly as scary as they thought it would be. ( Baltimore Sun, 6/16/05, by Neufeld)

Company Develops Cell Phone for 'Tweens'
A Chicago company has developed a cellular phone specifically for  children ages 8-12. The phone offers several parent-controlled features, including call screening, password protection, and speed dial buttons labeled "Mom" and "Dad." (SJ Mercury, 6/27/05, by Langberg)

MAY 2005

Conference Helps Girls Gain 'Emotional Intelligence'
This Menlo Park Almanac story is written by fifth-grader Katie Blankenberg, who attended Girls' Day, a recent conference for preteen girls co-sponsored by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. Katie describes how a conference workshop called "emotional intelligence" helped her learn to control her emotional outbursts, and she encourages moms and daughters to attend the conference in the future. (Menlo Park Almanac, 5/18/05, by Blankenberg)

Parents Battle with Preteens over PG-13 Rating
In this San Jose Mercury News column, Mike Cassidy addresses movies with PG-13 ratings and the struggle between parents and preteens who aren't yet old enough to buy tickets to these movies. While some parents pay strict attention to the government's rating, others consider whether their preteen is ready for the film's subject matter. (SJ Mercury, 5/18/05, by Cassidy)

Teens Write Middle School Survival Book
A group of Peninsula girls has published a book on how to survive middle school, titled “Middle School: How to Deal.” The girls came up with the idea as a class project at Girls Middle School in Mountain View in which they had to conceive and execute a business enterprise. The book covers subjects such as the change from elementary school to middle school and peer relationships. (SJ Mercury, 5/6/05, by Chung)

APRIL 2005

Consumer Electronics for Preteens
Faced with a decline in toy sales, toy makers such as Mattel and Hasbro have developed a new line of "youth electronics" to target preteens. Products include cell phones, walkie-talkies, and digital cameras. (WSJ, 4/25/05, by Kang)

Column: Tweens Should Just Be Themselves
This column, written by an 11-year-old girl from Menlo Park, explains that the "tween" years from ages 9 to 12 can be a confusing time, and kids should remember their individuality. (Menlo Park Almanac, 4/20/05, by Blankenberg)

Study: TV Could Be a Factor in Bullying
Four-year-olds who watch more than two hours of television a day have a bigger risk of becoming bullies, according to a University of Washington study. Researchers surveyed more than 1,200 children at age 4, and then again between the ages of 6 and 11, to determine what effect television watching has on aggressive behavior. (Dallas Morning News, 4/27/05, by Chumin)

Study: Obesity More Likely Due to Depression, Eating Disorders
Adolescent girls become obese not because of poor eating habits and lack of exercise, but because of depression and eating disorders, according to a University of Texas study of nearly 500 girls ages 11-15. The study found that having obese parents also was a factor in the girls' obesity. (MedPage Today, 4/11/05, by Woznicki)

MARCH 2005

Tweens are Newest Target for Cell Phone Companies
Cellular phones have become so popular among preteens that mobile phone companies have started developing phones targeted specifically for consumers in that age group. Parents say they like to be able to reach their children at any time, and kids say having a cell phone gives them a sense of safety and responsibility. (AP, 3/21/05, by Irvine)

Radio Shows Focus on Preteens
A series of Childhood Matters and Nuestros Niños call-in radio shows, funded in part by our foundation, focus on how to understand and encourage preteens during these key transitional years. The second parts of the three-part series, focusing on physical and mental health, are available for download. The first segments also are available online.  

FEBRUARY 2005

Federal Gang Prevention Program to Give $150 Million in Grants
First Lady Laura Bush will head up a new nationwide program to reduce gang violence and membership among children ages 8 to 17. Local organizations, including our foundation grantee Catholic Charities, hope that some of the program's $150 million in grants will go toward gang prevention in San Jose . (SJ Mercury, 2/4/05 , by Goldston and Douglas)

JANUARY 2005

Preteens Flex Their Muscles
This San Jose Mercury News article highlights the growing popularity of weightlifting among preteens. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend the sport until after puberty, several national weightlifting associations have added divisions for children under 14. Some young competitors say weightlifting has helped them improve in other sports such as basketball, ice hockey, and ballet. (SJ Mercury, 1/31/05 , by Krieger)

More Preteens Growing up Cooking
Cooking is a growing interest among preteens, and some have even written their own cookbooks. An increasing number of cooking classes and cooking television shows are targeting preteens, helping kids take responsibility for their own healthful eating habits. (SF Chronicle, 1/12/05 , by Duggan)

Study: Child Obesity Leads to Low Quality of Life
A recent Australian study found that overweight children not only run the risk of physical health issues, but have a poor self-image and lower self-esteem than their slimmer peers, creating a psychological impact that could affect the child for the rest of his or her life. The study was conducted among roughly 1,400 preteens ages 9-12. The study's findings are published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Gannett, 1/10/05 , by Gordon)