The Preteen Digest
The Preteen Digest is a summary of recent news and research about
preteens.
December 2003
Topics:
News & Research
Bullying
Linked with Depression, Suicide
Victims of bullies are five times more likely to be depressed than other
kids and also more likely to be suicidal, says a recent report by a national
advocacy group, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. The report, which states
that nearly one in six children in grades six through ten is a victim
of bullying each year, also says that anti-aggression programs can reduce
bullying by up to 50 percent.
Kids'
Dieting Can Have the Reverse Effect
Preteens who diet may gain more weight over the long term than non-dieters,
according to a Brigham and Women's Hospital study of children ages 9 to
14. Researchers speculate that one explanation for this is that restrictive
dieting may be followed by periods of binge eating. The study also found
that roughly one-fourth of those surveyed were on a diet.
How
Much Do Preteens Exercise?
More than 60 percent of children ages 9 to 13 don't participate in any
organized physical activities outside of school, according to a survey
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those least likely
to be involved in physical activities include African American and Latino
children, and kids whose parents had lower incomes and education levels.
Child
Delinquency On The Rise
The number of delinquents ages 7 to 12 increased one-third over the past
10 years, and their offenses now are more serious, says a federal report
outlining promising interventions, such as after school and mentoring
programs. The report also found that delinquents under age 13 are more
likely to become violent, chronic offenders than those whose criminal
behavior begins later.
Facts & Figures
Most California Kids Fail Fitness Test
Only one-quarter of the 1.3 million 5th, 7th, and 9th grade
students tested in California met six basic fitness standards. This, however,
is an improvement from four years ago, when only 20 percent of the students
met all six standards. Among the findings:
San Mateo County: 28 percent of 5th graders and 28.5
percent of 7th graders met all six basic fitness standards.
Santa Clara County: 23.8 percent of 5th graders and
30.8 percent of 7th graders met all six basic fitness standards.
California: 23 percent of 5th graders and 27.1 percent
of 7th graders met all six basic fitness standards.
More data:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/statetests/pe/pe.html
The Preteen Alliance
This newly formed community alliance seeks to promote the emotional and
behavioral health of preteens in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Membership
is open to anyone who wants to contribute to this initiative. Alliance
members will be kept informed of news and data related to preteens, and
will have opportunities to participate and share information at periodic
convenings. The Preteen Alliance was formed by the Lucile Packard Foundation
for Children's Health, which is devoted exclusively to promoting, protecting,
and sustaining the health of children, with a focus on San Mateo and Santa
Clara counties.
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