HOUSTON -- If a trip to Grandmother's house is in your holiday plans, check ahead to make certain her house is safe for children.

"Some of the relatives and friends you visit during the holidays might not be used to having young children around," said Dr. Teresa Duryea Rice, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "Their homes could present some dangers."

Parents of young children are familiar with the need to keep medications and hazardous materials out of reach, but these substances often are easily accessible in homes without youngsters.

"The No. 1 safety hazard is swallowing potentially toxic materials, such as medications, cleaning supplies and chemicals kept in the garage," she said.

Other seemingly harmless things like treadmills and trampolines can also be a danger if children are left unsupervised.

Outdoor hazards like swimming pools, rivers and ponds are another concern.

The activity level of the holidays poses some additional problems.

"With all the bustle of many guests arriving, a young child could go outdoors unnoticed," Rice said. "And there are children who accidentally or purposely consume alcoholic beverages left lying around."

Holiday staples like candles and tempting dishes of nuts and candies, which could cause a child to choke, can also be a danger.

Rice offered these suggestions to make your holiday stay as safe as possible:

• Call ahead to remind hosts of your child's ability to climb, roam and put objects in his or her mouth.
• Lock rooms that might be unsafe for children or that might contain valuables that can be easily broken.
• Be sure all medications, prescription and over the counter, are placed in a secure location.
• Firearms should be unloaded and stored in a locked environment. Ammunition should be stored and locked separately.
• Make a family plan to provide adult supervision of children and set limits clearly with the children.

"Don't forget that someone needs to be the designated supervisor of the young children or they must be in a safe zone," Rice said. "Sometimes hiring a babysitter is the best way to ensure the children's safety and allow the parents freedom to enjoy the holiday." (12-05-01)

WASHINGTON -- To help prevent injuries to children this Halloween, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is releasing safety tips. Halloween-related injuries can involve burns from flammable costumes ignited by open flames from items such as candles and jack-o-lanterns, and abrasions from sharp objects attached to masks or costumes.

To help keep children safe, CPSC enforces the Flammable Fabrics Act and recalls products at Halloween and throughout the year that can cause injury. Make this year's holiday a safe one by following these safety tips on costumes, treats and decorations. CPSC has also issued a safety alert on Halloween safety tips.

Costumes

• When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester or look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
• Purchase or make costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
• For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
• Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
• Costumes should be well-fitted and not drag on the ground to guard against trips and falls.
• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Oversized high heels are not a good idea.
• Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes and obstructing vision.
• If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision.
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.

Treats

• Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
• Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard.

Decorations

• Keep candles and jack-o'-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
• Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Indoors, keep candles and jack-o'-lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could be ignited.
• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
• Don't overload extension cords.

Consumers can also view a video clip about Halloween safety tips at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02027.html. (10-26-01)

HOUSTON -- A new study called BoneMax is testing whether a carbohydrate, inulin, can help growing kids absorb more calcium and build stronger bones. A pilot study completed last year at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine suggests it can.

"In our earlier study, inulin supplements increased the amount of calcium adolescent girls absorbed from a high-calcium diet by nearly 80 milligrams or 18 percent," said Dr. Steven Abrams, professor of pediatrics at Baylor and the principal investigator of the study.

Older children normally absorb only about 30 percent of the calcium present in their diets. So, an 80 milligram boost is equivalent to drinking an extra seven ounces of milk.

Inulin’s ability to "raise the bar" of calcium absorption among kids who consume a high-calcium diet leads Abrams to believe it might also help kids whose calcium intakes are less than optimal.

"Encouraging kids to consume plenty of calcium-rich foods is very important," he said. "But, if inulin can help kids absorb more calcium from the foods they already eat, the impact on developing skeletons, especially in kids with marginal diets, could be significant."

Inulin is already present in many processed foods, where it is used to add texture to low-calorie spreads, candies, processed cheeses, yogurt, ice cream, baked goods and low-fat meats and meat substitutes. Natural sources include onions, asparagus, leeks, garlic, artichokes, bananas, wheat, rye, barley, and chicory.

High in soluble fiber and low in calories, inulin is considered a "partially digestible" carbohydrate, yielding just 1.5 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram for fully digestible carbohydrates like sugar and 9 calories per gram for fat.

WASHINGTON -- Mothers are better able to mitigate the negative effects of parental work stress on children, according to an analysis of research conducted over the past decade.

An analysis of how parents' work stress affects children's and adolescents' psychological adjustment was conducted by Ann C. Crouter and Matthew F. Bumpus of Pennsylvania State University. Their results are published in the October 2001 issue of the American Psychological Society's journal, Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Whether in a traditional heterosexual household model where fathers are the primary income source or where both parents work, research indicates that mothers are better equipped to manage the effects of their work stress on children. Across the spectrum of full-time, part-time, or no job, mothers can more easily adapt and manage "not only their own emotions and emotional undercurrents in their families, with subsequent benefits not only for their own interactions with offspring but their husbands' interactions as well."

Research shows that wives are still more often seen as primarily responsible for housework and childcare than their husbands. Additionally, research shows that husbands typically work longer hours than their wives. This seems to have the effect of prohibiting husbands from having interactions and other outside experiences to soften the effects of the stressful workday, while the traditional roles prevent women from remaining focused on the stresses of the workday.

A common theme throughout the analysis was that parents were better able to not transmit workplace stress if they had time to spend alone. Mothers especially were better able to manage the effects of work stress at home if they found more time alone to themselves.

As a coping strategy, husbands may withdraw from marital relations and mothers tend to withdraw from both positive and negative interactions with their children on stressful workdays. "One response of overloaded parents may be to withdraw from family interaction," the researchers wrote. "This may be a satisfactory short-term strategy, but a parent who is chronically stressed at work and withdrawn at home may be seen by other family members as inaccessible and disengaged."

WASHINGTON -- No single variable explains gender differences in depression. However, a review of three decades of research has led to the development of an integrative model that helps us to better understand why even from childhood females are twice as likely than males to experience depression.

Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, reviewed research conducted over the past several decades to determine the factors that contribute to and even create the gender-based disparity in depression. Her analysis appears in the October 2001 issue of the American Psychological Society journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Nolen-Hoeksema's model has two main components: stressful life events, such as victimization and chronic strains, and reactivity to stress, including biological responses to stress, coping styles, and self-concept.

The model suggests that women are more likely to have less power and status in most societies. As such, women experience certain traumas, such as sexual abuse, more often than men. Research has shown that as much as 35 percent of the gender difference in depression could be attributed to the higher incidence of assault of girls relative to boys.

Women also experience chronic strains such as poverty, harassment, lack of respect, and diminished choices as compared to men. And even when men and women experience the same stressors, the sexes have biological differences to responses to stress, self-concepts, or coping.

Another issue is "role overload." A wife and husband could have similar workloads at their jobs. However, woman often bear the burden for most of the childcare and housework. Women often get sandwiched between caring for children and caring for elderly parents. "This role overload is said to contribute to a sense of 'burn out' and general distress, including depressive symptoms, in women," Nolen Hoeksema wrote.

HOUSTON -- By the time your children are learning their multiplication tables, they may need to be screened for diabetes.

According to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, overweight children that have two or more risk factors for the disorder should be screened starting at age ten.

"Signs that parents can look for include frequent urination, constant thirst, weight loss and/or a darkening or "ring" around the neck also known as acanthosis nigricans," says Dr. Siripoom McKay, an assistant professor of pediatrics, endocrinology and metabolism at Baylor.

The American Diabetic Association reports that prior to 1990, type 2 diabetes accounted for less than five percent of diabetes in children. Today, over 20 percent of all newly diagnosed diabetic children have type 2 diabetes.

According to McKay, physical activity among children has decreased due to changes in society, school and lifestyle. In addition, the prevalence of obesity has been steadily increasing in children and adults.

"Neighborhoods are not as safe as they used to be, so children are often confined indoors where they watch TV and play video games instead of exercising outside," she says.

Diabetes puts a person at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, poor circulation and infections of the feet and legs that can result in amputation, McKay says. It is also the leading cause of blindness and kidney failure in the U.S. Treatment includes medication, insulin and lifestyle changes.

While millions await the promised tax refund, most working taxpayers don’t know they might have saved even more money in the first place if they had taken all of the withholding taxes allowed by the IRS, says Diane Kennedy, CPA and author of "Loopholes of the Rich: How the Rich Legally Make More Money and Pay Less Tax." Most consumers just aren’t aware they can choose to pay less in taxes by making certain their W-4 forms contain the updated W-4 for withholding filed with their employer, she says.

ROSEMONT, Ill.-- To reduce the risk of hand amputation and other fireworks-related injury, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is urging people not to handle, ignite or transport these devices -- even if their state permits it.

"An exploding firecracker can devastate a person's life in a flash," says Academy first vice president Vernon T. Tolo, MD, a Los Angeles orthopaedic surgeon. "Fireworks should be off limits to all except qualified personnel. The risk is too great. Firecrackers can misfire. A wind shift might change the rocket's direction or what seems to be a 'dud' suddenly explodes. Most of these injuries could be prevented."

Hospitals and doctors' offices treated an estimated 16,700 fireworks-related injuries in 2000 among youth under age 25 years, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

SEATTLE, WASH. -- A child's likelihood of experiencing adjustment problems following divorce depends on the interaction of the child's temperament and the quality of the mother's parenting style, reports a new study.

Psychologists from the University of Washington and Arizona State University studied the mothers and one child from 231 Arizona families, which had experienced divorce in the past two years. The children were between 9 and 12 years of age.

The study showed that impulsive children appeared to be at greater risk for developing adjustment problems and depression if they had a mother who applied rules and discipline inconsistently. Researchers also found that children who exhibit what's called "high positive emotionality" -- a measure of cheerfulness -- seemed better able to handle maternal rejection. (1/11/01)

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Relaxation training and biofeedback help children who suffer from migraine headaches, reports a study in the January 9 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers studied 20 children who had been clinically diagnosed with migraine. The children were taught deep breathing, muscle relaxation and guided imagery techniques, and were encouraged to practice them at home at least three times a week and at the onset of a headache.

Headache severity in the children decreased from 5 on a 10-point scale prior to initial training to 4.5 at the time of the next visit, about five months later. The average frequency and duration of headaches also decreased from 12.9 days to just under 10 days a month, and in duration from 6.9 hours to 5.2 hours. (1/9/01)

WASHINGTON -- A strong link exists between mental disorders in parents and their children, according to a study published in the January 2001 American Journal of Psychiatry.

Researchers found significant associations between the presence of panic disorder and major depression in parents and patterns of dysfunction in their children.

Lead author Joseph Biederman, M.D., a psychiatrist in the clinical psychopharmacology unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, says the outcome of the study showed support for the idea that children are at high risk of manifesting emotional and behavioral difficulties if the parent has depression or anxiety disorders.(1/3/01)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The younger deaf and hearing-impaired children are when a cochlear implant awakens their hearing, the better they will do on speech recognition tests later in life, report researchers at the University of Michigan.

Researchers looked at test results from 101 children who received the same model of cochlear implant at the University of Michigan Health System between the ages of 2 and 14 years. The children were divided roughly in half, to allow for two analyses that could help isolate the effect of age at implantation on speech perception. All children took a battery of six standard tests to measure their ability to recognize sounds, words and sentences. Overall, the results showed a strong combined effect of age at implantation and the length of time the children had had their implants.

Cochlear implants are electronic devices that transform speech and other sounds into electrical impulses that stimulate auditory nerve terminals in the inner ear. They can restore hearing and improve communication for children and adults with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears who get little or no benefit from hearing aids. (1/2/01)

CHICAGO -- Children who are exempt from immunization for religious or philosophical reasons have a higher risk of measles and pertussis, according to an article in the December 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers collected data regarding all reported measles and pertussis cases among children aged 3 to 18 in Colorado during 1987-1998. According to background information cited in the study, 48 states allow exemptions from mandatory vaccination for religious reasons, and 15 states allow philosophical exemptions. A recent study showed that the risk of measles infection during 1985-1992 in the United States was, on average, 35 times greater in children with personal exemptions compared with vaccinated children. (12/26/00)

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Mouse allergen, in the form of mouse urine or dander, may be a significant contributing factor to the childhood asthma epidemic in urban areas, according to two studies by Johns Hopkins researchers published in the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

"Before these studies, mice weren't widely recognized as an allergen in homes," says Robert Wood, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Hopkins and lead investigator of both studies. "Now we know that houses are full of it, and we were surprised that mice turned out to be even more important in inner-city asthma than cats, dogs or dust mites. Doctors need to take mouse allergen into account when evaluating kids with asthma."

In a study of eight cities, the scientists discovered that 95 percent of all homes in the study had mouse allergen in at least one room. Eighteen percent of the children were allergic to mice and those children tended to have more severe asthma. (12/11/00)

BETHESDA, Md. -- Foods contaminated in Michigan in 1973 have been associated with an early onset of menstruation and pubic hair in some daughters of the women exposed, scientists reported in the journal Epidemiology.

The daughters of the most highly exposed women began menstruation, on average, before they reached their twelfth birthdays.

The women were exposed to the chemical polybrominated biphenyl PBB when a fire retardant was accidentally mixed with animal feed. The contamination was eventually discovered when milk production went down and calves were stillborn or born with hoof deformities. By the time the source of the PBBs was identified, at least 4,000 people had been exposed through contaminated meat and dairy products. PBB accumulates in fatty tissue in the body and is stored for years.

Researchers contacted female offspring, 5 to 24 years of age, born after the Michigan PBB incident to mothers listed as exposed to PBB in the Michigan PBB registry. Those with earliest menstruation were daughters of mothers with the highest estimated serum levels of PBBs during pregnancy, who had also nursed their infant daughters, giving them both prenatal and breast milk exposures. In the PBB study, the most highly exposed girls were a year ahead in starting their periods, at 11.6 years compared to 12.7 years for less-exposed girls. (12/8/00)

WASHINGTON -- Family influence and participation in sports may help deter kids from using drugs, according to a nationwide survey of children ages 9 to17.

These answers came from more than 25,000 kids who responded to the question "What’s Your Anti-Drug?" posed by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1.

Kids responded online and through the mail with answers that ranged from a single word to creative expressions that included art, music, photography and poetry. Some of their responses will be included in national television ads, which began running in mid-November.

The anti-drug message is part of a nationwide advertising and community outreach campaign that has reached millions of children and their parents since it began more than two months ago. (12/6/00)

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania schools fail to comply with laws related to violence and weapons on campus, according to an audit of 40 school districts.

The audit also found that the Department of Education failed to provide school districts with the guidance they needed to comply with the law, particularly with regard to reporting acts of violence.

Auditors examined the schools' reports to the Department of Education, record-keeping procedures, expulsion policies for weapons possession, coordination with law enforcement, and maintenance of individual student records for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Nearly 20 percent of the districts failed to file all the required reports of violence and weapons possession to the Department of Education for all four years covered by the audit. Only one of the 40 districts had the required Memorandum of Understanding with local law enforcement for all four years covered by the audit. An MOU sets forth the procedures to be followed when an incident of violence or weapons possession occurs on school property. (12/4/00)

BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children offers the following safety tips for parents and children in the hopes of keeping holiday shopping safe and fun:

• Keep your child with you at all times. Do not allow your child to wander through stores unsupervised.
• Point out the store security guards so your children will know who to ask for help if they get lost.
• Use consistent discipline.If you need to discipline your child while shopping, use the same kind of consistent discipline you would use at home.
• Keep trips brief. Plan no more than a one- or two-hour expedition with an infant or toddler.
• Try to shop with another adult. Take turns watching the kids while the other shops.
• Plan shopping trips with children only when they are rested and fed.
• Avoid stores with narrow aisles and fragile items. They are not child friendly.
• Set clear rules.Be clear with you child about what she can and cannot touch.
• Remove your child's coat or sweater inside stores. This keeps your child from becoming overheated and irritable.
• Bring distractions. A book, a toy, a song or a snack can be a welcome distraction while waiting in lines.

MSPCC is a private, non-profit child welfare agency. Since 1878, it has served as a leading advocate for children and families, pioneering and providing programs that prevent child abuse, treat the victims of abuse and neglect, and strengthen families. (12/1/00)

Dubbed "Talk it Up," the program is slated to begin next spring and will focus on middle- and high-school students. Launched by the University at Buffalo and Upstate New York Transplant Services, "Talk it Up" will be funded with a three-year, $534,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The program will feature UNYTS staff members, who will share information about organ donation in health-education courses in 30 middle schools and high schools in the western region of New York State. They will discuss why organ and tissue donation is important, how it works and how to bring up the subject with family members and loved ones. Students will be encouraged to arrive at an understanding of each family member's wishes.(11/28/00)

The program prompts users to select a state and grade level, and then provides information about a particular test's subject matter, test dates and the effects of test results on students and schools. The site also provides background information, commentary on the various types of standardized tests and links to education sites specific to the user's state.

Because the majority of the nation’s educational system is under state or district control, tests vary significantly from state to state. Some are locally developed while others are purchased from commercial test publishers. Homeroom's Assessment Advisor will eventually have the information from all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- making it easier for teachers and parents to successfully prepare students. (11/27/00)

Stay Safe Online is an interactive safety education program led by Shaquille O'Neal and Tara Lipinski, and Safe Internet is a resource offering tools and answers that address commonly asked questions about protecting personal information online.

Stay Safe Online leads kids through a 15-minute animated tutorial that teaches basic safe surfing skills. The program focuses on three strategies to help ensure that kids have a positive, safe online experience: education, adult supervision and technology.

Microsoft created the sites in response to the findings of its survey, "Web Savvy and Safety: How Kids and Parents Differ in What They Know, Whom They Trust." According to the study, parents are unsure of what tools and policies are available for them to help guide and regulate their children's Internet experience. Over half of the parents and teens interviewed were very concerned about getting a computer virus online or having credit card information intercepted by a third party. (11/27/00)

Researchers found that people who stay up all night after learning and practicing a new task show little improvement in their performance. And, the study suggests, no amount of sleep on the following two nights can make up for the toll taken by the initial all-nighter.

The study supports earlier research that suggests sleep is necessary for learning, says Robert Stickgold, Harvard Medical School assistant professor of psychiatry. "We think that getting that first night's sleep starts the process of memory consolidation," he says. "It seems that memories normally wash out of the brain unless some process nails them down. My suspicion is that sleep is one of those things that does the nailing down." (11/21/00)

Conversely, youth in Europe spend less time online but have fewer restrictions on what they can see and do.

The findings are based on a 16-country study of Internet users between the ages of 12 and 24, conducted by global marketing firm Ipsos-Reid.

About 40 percent of American youth report some form of Internet time or content limits, the second-highest level among the 16 countries surveyed. They are also much more likely than youth in other countries to have restrictions on what sites they can visit and report that their parents have installed filtering software on their home computers. (11/20/00)

The study involved a review of drug treatment errors in a children's teaching hospital over five years from 1994 to 1999. The overall error rate was low, with one mistake for every 662 admissions to the hospital. Most of the errors were classified as "minor," yet almost one in 10 required some intervention. Analysis of the reporting forms showed that 48 percent of parents had not been told of the mistake, which the authors considered to be high. (11/19/00)

The survey measured public perceptions of the Bible among 1,000 men and women ages 18 and older. Survey respondents included a cross-sampling of age, gender, education, race and geographic region. The survey's findings were released today in celebration of National Bible Week (November 19-26).

Overall, the survey revealed that most people feel the Bible is most important to children. Forty-six percent of adults surveyed mentioned the Bible’s help for children learning about life and values (rather than adults seeking wisdom and inspiration). By contrast, young adults ages 18 to 24 believe that the Bible can be most influential for teens. (11/15/00)

In response to the question "Who tells you the truth?" the study found that 67 percent of kids age 8 to 9 trust their government to tell them the truth. However, by age 10, that figure drops to 59 percent and by age 14, it plummets to only 27 percent.

Designed to better understand children's sense of trust in parents, friends, teachers and authority figures, particularly as it varies across age and gender, the survey was conducted from April to July, 2000. It is based on the answers provided by 8,840 children ranging from ages 8 to 16 who visited the ZOOM Web site and responded voluntarily. The results were compiled by Applied Research and Consulting LLC. (11/7/00)

Of the 501 parents interviewed, nine out of 10 with children younger than 12 feel that their children are eating a very or somewhat nutritious diet, but fewer than one out of 10 know how many servings of milk products their kids need each day. The vast majority of parents surveyed did not know that vitamin D helps calcium absorption.

According to the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, depending on age, children should be eating two to three daily servings of calcium-rich foods to help bones grow longer and stronger. Since the body can't manufacture calcium, all the calcium children need must come from foods like yogurt, milk and calcium-fortified products. Combining calcium-rich products and vitamin D is important because vitamin D's primary role is to help calcium be absorbed efficiently from the small intestine. (11/3/00)

Data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reveals up to 15 percent of American children, ages 6 to 17, are overweight. The figure represents a doubling of the prevalence rates reported in earlier surveys, says Samuel Klein, M.D., the association’s public affairs chairman.

A recent two-year study of more than 10,000 children, ages 9 to 14, found that normal weight female dieters were more likely than non-dieters to report binge eating. Regardless of their intake of calories, fat or carbohydrate or their level of physical activity, frequent dieters were significantly more likely to become overweight than those who never dieted. About 3 percent of the girl dieters and 5 percent of the boy dieters became overweight within the study period.

For more information, visit http://www.naaso.org. (11/1/00)

About 74 percent of the parents surveyed say their kids catch a cold first. Seventy-seven percent witnessed colds spreading to other family members.

"There's a reason we call it the 'common cold'," says Mark Stegelman, M.D., a pediatric urgent care physician with Emory Eastside Medical Center in Snellville, Ga. "Kids bring a cold home from school or daycare, and in as few as six days, it can wreak havoc on the average family of four. Just when everyone's feeling better, one of the kids catches another cold, and the cycle can start all over."

Stegelman anticipates a hard-hitting cold season, but offers the following suggestions to cut down on the transmission of cold germs:

• Teach children to cover sneezes
• Wash hands frequently
• Use paper towel or your sleeve to turn doorknobs

He also advises parents to stock up on cold supplies such as over-the-counter medication, facial tissues and orange juice. For more information visit http://www.cycleofcolds.com/. (11/1/00)

Of these, 13 percent were home alone more than 10 hours a week, reports Census Bureau analyst Kristin Smith.

Self-care was more common among middle school-age children than among those in elementary schools. Nine percent of children ages 5 to 11, and 41 percent of children ages 12 to 14 regularly cared for themselves.

Grade school-age children were more likely to care for themselves if they lived with a single father (31 percent) than a single mother (17 percent). Additionally, the chances of self-care increased with family income -- from 11 percent of children in poverty to 22 percent of those with family incomes at least double the poverty line.(10/31/00)

When you order and bury its fossil replicas, the Dinosaur Recovery Bureau sends a letter to your child with an I.D. card inviting him or her on assignment as an associate special agent.

"Kids love to get mail and getting mail asking them to dig up dinosaur bones makes them feel pretty important," says John Ribbing, DRB founder and president.

The company offers 13 different types of fossils -- from Velociraptor claws to Triceratops horns. For more information, visit http://www.dinobureau.com. (10/30/00)

"Sugar is your mouth's worst enemy," says NCDS President Dr. Charles H. Norman. "At no other time of year are youngsters exposed to the sheer quantity of refined sugar as they are during Halloween."

Sugar interacts with bacteria in the mouth to form an acid that eats away at tooth enamel, Norman says. His organization offers the following tips to prevent cavities:

• Watch what treats your children bring home
• Supervise what they eat and how much
• Brush teeth immediately after candy snacks

Also beware of hard candies that can damage teeth through cracking and chipping, and soft candies that stick to teeth and gums leading to prolonged contact with tooth surfaces.(10/27/00)

"When we face a crisis in the Middle East or elsewhere, kids need information that puts the news in an historic context but also in a way they can understand," says David Goddy, editor-in-chief of Scholastic Magazines.The Scholastic News Zone provides age-appropriate, daily news updates on the continuing international crisis. Along with news, the report features viewpoints from two students -- one Palestinian, the other an Israeli. (10/25/00)

Scheduled to debut 8 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day, "Table Talk: Real Families Face Real Issues" will discuss topics such as curfews, favoritism, respect, dating and safety.

WAM!, the first programmer to air the program, will rotate the eight short features throughout the day until midnight. After that, the program will appear at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. EST Sundays.

"As the first ever dinnertime dialogues with actual families during a real family dinner, 'Table Talk' sets a positive example for all families struggling to preserve family time and resolve family issues," says Midge Pierce, vice president of WAM!

For more information, contact Paul Jacobson at 303-267-5821.(10/24/00)

The report, titled, "Internet Usage in Public Schools 2000, 5th Edition," was based on data collected from 400 telephone surveys with teachers. Researchers found that the majority surveyed viewed the Internet’s role as positive and 81 percent used the Web to evaluate their curriculum material. (10/18/00)

"There have been too many deaths of children caught in trunks in hot weather with no way out -- this will provide them a means of escape," Slater said.

In the summer of 1998, 11 children died from exposure to heat after being inadvertently trapped in car trunks. A study released that year by the Centers for Disease Control documented a total of 19 cases of children ages 6 and younger who died in car trunks between 1987 and 1998. (10/17/00)

Clinton hailed the move as a step forward in helping low-income families gain access to work. He said he plans to call on Congress to pass a budget that supports working families and which reflects America’s priorities, including a minimum wage increase, targeted tax cuts, the promotion of responsible fatherhood and an increase in child support payments.(10/16/00)

Healthy Smiles 2010 will provide education, oral care tools, and increased access to dental professionals. Crest hopes to reach 50 million children within the next 10 years. This goal is designed to help meet the Surgeon General's goal of eliminating disparities in oral health by 2010.

For more information, call 877-289-6322. (10/10/00)

Researchers studied 227 children, ages 9 and 10. Of these, 108 had been born prematurely and 219 had been born full term at Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

The study found a significant increase in risk of grade repetition, placement in special education and use of additional school-based services for children born at less than 28 weeks gestation compared to full-term children. (10/3/00)

Developed by Vtech, the new Phusion digital assistant has a built-in digital camera, a conversion calculator, two language translators, a calendar, an address book and a 255-entry "To Do" list.

Phusion photo images can be downloaded to a personal computer and kids can access the company’s Web site to view personal photo albums created by other users. For more information visit myphusion.com. (10/3/00)

In its annual report on income and poverty in America, the bureau revealed an unprecedented fifth year of income growth and the largest drop in poverty in two decades. Income for median households rose $1,072, or 2.7 percent, from $39,744 in 1998 to $40,816. The poverty rate fell to 11.8 percent in 1999 -- the lowest level since 1979.

While the child poverty rate remains high, in 1999 it declined from18.9 percent to 16.9 percent, which is the lowest rate since 1979.

The bureau credits the government’s Earned Income Tax Credit program for lifting 4.1 million people out of poverty. Among children, the EITC reduced poverty by 17 percent in 1999, which represents the movement of 2.3 million children out of poverty. (9/26/00)

Kids younger than age 15 suffer more than 227,100 soccer-related injuries annually. Injuries include severe head trauma, neck injuries, damage to the cervical spine, headache, neck pain, dizziness, irritability and insomnia.

The technique of "heading" -- the deliberate use of the head to redirect the ball -- is blamed for these injuries.

While some chiropractors suggest children not do "heading" until age 11, others say it’s not safe to do until age 16. Advice on helmets is controversial, with some doctors suggesting that helmets cannot protect the spine.

However, parents can follow these safety guidelines:

• Teach proper heading technique
• Use smaller balls for younger players
• Pad goal posts
• Use mouth guards
• Proper medical coverage at games
• Proper nutrition, including plenty of water to keep muscles hydrated

Parents are also encouraged to have their children participate in a broad spectrum of sports -- not just soccer -- to develop the whole body. (9/25/00)

Available nationwide, the kits contain a fingerprint chart, "Printake" strips, towelettes and an area for a child's most recent photo and vital statistics.

"When parents take the time to professionally fingerprint their children, those prints become invaluable to law enforcement agencies if the child is ever reported missing," says Julia Cartwright, director of Public Affairs for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "Hopefully you'll never have to use them, but, like a fire extinguisher in your home, they're important resources to have, just in case."

Kits are available to large groups -- such as clubs, schools, and day care centers -- while supplies last by faxing requests to (401) 827-3716. All requests should include the name of the contact person and phone number. There is a limit of six kits per call. (9/25/00)

Survey results show that major companies like Merrill Lynch are taking a comprehensive attitude towards family work-life issues. Merrill Lynch provides a back-up child care program, supports efforts to accredit child care centers and family child care homes, and offers parent education, family leave, flexible work arrangements, and a campaign for women's achievement.

The survey of 34 large and small companies, which was released at the Wharton Impact Conference, "Caring for the Young Children of Working Parents: A Call for Private and Public Sector Leadership," indicated several trends:

• 66 percent surveyed offered flexible work arrangement
• 38 percent offered maternity/paternity/adoption leave with some replacement pay
• 71 percent offered some sort of child care assistance

For more information or for a copy of the study or the conference proceeding contact the Delaware Valley Child Care Council. (9/25/00)

HiFusion will provide free Internet service to all students and teachers participating in Youth-e-Vote, a nonprofit online voting site for American kids. Registration and voting will be available to students in HiFusion school districts, especially those accessing HiFusion through the 9-12 portal designed for high school students.

Votes for president, governor, and important civic issues (one vote per student) will be tallied at the close of the 10-day online voting period on Nov. 2, 2000. For more information, visit www.youthevote.net. (9/21/00)

The publication seeks girls who pursue their dreams, have high ambitions, and aren't afraid to fight injustice; girls who are strong and healthy in mind, body and spirit; girls who encourage others to have confidence in their voices. Those selected will be profiled in the magazine's May/June 2001 issue.

To nominate a beautiful girl, send a 200-word essay about why she is beautiful to: girl@newmoon.org or Beautiful Girls, New Moon Publishing, P.O. Box 3620, Duluth, MN, 55803-3620. Nomination deadline is Nov. 1, 2000.(9/20/00)

Researchers sampled Streptococcus pneumoniae ("strep" bacteria) from day care attendees and found that antibiotic treatment caused the bacteria in the noses and throats of the studied children to develop antibiotic-resistant traits. They also detected the same resistant S. pneumoniae strains in the children's siblings, suggesting that resistance could spread beyond the confines of the center.

The two-year study was conducted by Dr. Ron Dagan of Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva, Israel, and involved eight day care centers in Beer-Sheva, 240 toddlers and 46 of their siblings. (9/16/00)

"Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Online Privacy" includes tips for teaching kids about online privacy as well as information about privacy seals.

The booklet was developed by Classroom Connect, Inc., a provider of Internet-based curriculum for K-12 education, and TRUSTe, an independent, non-profit privacy seal organization. The two organizations launched the Children’s Privacy Initiative in recognition of online privacy as an increasingly important issue as the number of kids online continues to grow from 8.6 million in 1998 to a predicted 21.9 million by 2002. (9/14/00)

Released by the General Accounting Office, the report is the first comprehensive congressional investigation of commercial activities in the classroom. The GAO analyzed commercialism laws across the nation and in seven school districts in California, Michigan and New Mexico. It found that policies are uneven and inadequate.

"We recognize and deplore the financial constraints most American schools face today," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "But it would be a mistake to suggest that commercial contracts can make up the whole difference without having additional ramifications."

Problems noted by Miller included a student in Georgia who was suspended for wearing a Pepsi shirt on a school-sponsored "Coke Day," and classroom material sponsored by Exxon that teaches how the Valdez spill was a great example of environmental protection.

Miller and Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., have introduced the Student Privacy Protection Act, which would require parents' permission before children can participate in commercial market research in school. (9/14/00)

While one in 13 sixth-graders has smoked marijuana, that number jumps to one in five by seventh grade.

"Kids who are transitioning from elementary to middle school are extremely vulnerable to drug exposure and use, which makes talking to your child at this time especially important," says Barry R. McCaffrey, department director.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy recommends that parents talk with their kids about drugs, keep tabs on them and their friends, and keep them involved in after-school activities. (9/11/00)

In its report, "School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective," the FBI shares risk factors and behaviors teachers and parents should watch for, and presents methods for prevention and intervention.

The report is based on an in-depth review of 18 cases of actual school shootings and foiled attempts. It explores the incidents, the shooters, their background, the schools, and other social elements, which may have influenced the crimes. (9/6/00)

The survey found that 45 percent of the nearly 24,000 students receiving medication for ADHD also received special education services. It also revealed that African-American, Hispanic, and Asian students receive medication for ADHD at approximately half the rate of Caucasian students.

"We found that race has a stronger influence on medication rates for ADHD than average household income," said the survey’s lead author, Daniel Safer, M.D., adjunct associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center Safer.

The Maryland General Assembly's Legislative Task Force for the Study of the Use of Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and Other Drugs in School Children mandated the survey over concerns for ADHD prescription practices. (9/5/00)

CPSC data show there were more than 4,000 scooter-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms in August alone. There have been more than 9,400 emergency room-treated injuries reported for 2000 so far. Nearly 90 percent of the injuries are to children under the age of 15.

CPSC recommends riders, especially children, wear proper safety gear including a helmet, wrist guards and knee and elbow pads to help prevent injuries. This is the same safety gear CPSC recommends for in-line skating. Wrist guards can reduce the risk of broken bones or dislocated joints. Knee pads can help prevent knee injuries.CPSC estimates more than 60 percent of injuries could be prevented or reduced in severity if protective gear had been worn.

The scooters, which first went on the market in the United States last year, are new versions of the foot-propelled scooters first popular in the 1950s. They are made of lightweight metal such as aluminum and have small low-friction wheels similar to those on in-line skates. They usually costs between $80 and $120 and typically weigh less than 10 pounds. They can be folded for easy portability.

Most injuries resulted when riders fell from the scooter, the CPSC reports. Fractures and dislocations accounted for 29 percent of the injuries. Most of the fractures and dislocations were to arms and hands.

The CPSC also recommends riders ride on smooth, paved surfaces without any traffic, should avoid streets or surfaces with water, sand, gravel or dirt and shouldn't ride at night. (09/05/00)

The findings are part of a review by the White House National Drug Policy of its annual household drug survey. Data collected from 1997 to 1999 reflected a 21 percent decline in all youth drug use. Marijuana use dropped 26 percent.

"The survey provides extremely encouraging news. [It] clearly shows that our drug prevention efforts are working," said Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the White House office on drug policy.

Survey results also revealed that the younger children are when they first use marijuana, the greater the likelihood of their becoming drug dependent as an adult.

The household survey was based on a sample of 67,000 individuals age 12 and older -- the largest sampling ever done by the department. (8/31/00)

The ADA recommends parents start kids out with a healthy breakfast.For children and teens, a morning meal is especially important.

"After eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack, a child's body needs fuel," says Althea Zanecosky, a Philadelphia registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the ADA. "Breakfast prepares children to meet the challenges of learning."

According to the ADA, research shows breakfast skippers often feel tired, irritable or restless in the morning, but those who regularly eat a morning meal have a better attitude toward school and have more energy by late morning.

"Kids who eat breakfast tend to have more strength and endurance, and better concentration and problem-solving ability," Zanecosky says.

Studies suggest breakfast not only has a significant effect on learning, it may help control weight and reduce the risk for heart disease, according to the ADA.

"Breakfast eaters are less likely to be ravenously hungry for mid-morning snacks of lunch and they tend to eat less fat during the day too," Zanecosky says.

Zanecosky says parents can make breakfast fun by planning it with their children and said breakfast doesn't have to consist of traditional breakfast foods and can include foods such as a slice of pizza.

The kinds of foods kids eat for breakfast can make a difference in their energy levels. When a breakfast consists of mostly sugary foods, such as fruit, juice, candy or pop, a quick rise in the blood sugar occurs, causing a rush of energy. After about an hour, blood sugar and energy decline, bringing on symptoms of hunger, the ADA reports.

A balanced breakfast, consisting of foods containing carbohydrate, sugar, protein and fat gives a constant release of energy, delaying symptoms of hunger for several hours.

The ADA recommends parents keep quick-to-fix foods on hand or get breakfast foods ready the night before if time is an issue. Breakfast cereals, bagels, toaster waffles, yogurt, canned and fresh fruit, juice, milk, cheese and cottage cheese are all good options.

"Overall, a well-nourished child is a ready-to-learn child," Zanecosky says. "Food nourishes at every age and stage in a child's life and proper nutrition is crucial for social, emotional and psychological development. Teaching children how to eat healthy will enable them to establish a foundation of good nutrition and healthful lifestyle habits." (08/11/00)

Researchers collected data over a 35-year time span using a representative sample of 3,200 high school students. Examination of their home lives and their later adult habits revealed that those exposed to physical and verbal abuse were more likely to smoke. Women were 24 percent more likely to smoke if they grew up in a home where there was verbal abuse. Men raised in homes where there was physical abuse were 28 percent more likely to smoke.

Growing up in poverty or a broken family had no effect on smoking, a finding that surprised researchers. (8/30/00)

Children using the program, called Interactive Metronome, wear headphones and use hand and foot sensors to coordinate movements to computer-generated musical beats. The patented auditory guidance system progressively challenges participants to improve their motor planning, sequencing and rhythmic timing. Attention and learning are dependent on these skills, the study reported.

On-going studies are exploring the program's use as an assessment and diagnostic tool, and as a component of an intervention program for a wide range of problems including cerebral palsy, autism, Parkinson's disease and different types of language disorders. (8/22/00).

The report says 34.8 percent of high school students in 1999 reported that they had smoked a cigarette in the previous 30 days. That was down from 36.4 percent in 1997. It is the first decline since the government first commissioned this study in 1991.

A notable drop was seen in smoking rates of high school freshmen, down 17 percent.

Government analysts attribute the decrease to prevention programs and the higher cost of cigarettes. (08/24/00)

The study found that math scores are rising across the country at a national average rate of about one percentile point per year, a pace outstripping that of the previous two decades and suggesting that public education reforms are taking hold. Progress is far from uniform, however. One group of states -- led by North Carolina and Texas and including Michigan, Indiana and Maryland -- boasts gains about twice as great as the national average. Another group -- including Wyoming, Georgia, Delaware and Utah -- shows minuscule gains or none at all. Most states fall in between. (7/25/00)

"Just in time for the November elections, this curriculum inspires girls to live up to their visions of leadership," said Nancy Gruver, president of New Moon Publishing. "Our readers (ages 8-14) are the generation who will make Ms. President a reality. The educational activities and resources included help them envision that reality and see how to make it happen."

"This curriculum not only encourages girls to pursue their career dreams, but also offers a starting point for the journey," said Marie C. Wilson, president of the White House Project and co-creator of the Ms. Foundation for Women's Take Our Daughters to Work Day. "Readers learn about the historical accomplishments of women on the way to making history themselves in the 21st Century."

The curriculum is the next step in the White House Project's "Pipeline to the Presidency" initiative, a series of research and programs to encourage women's leadership development and engagement in the political process at all ages. For more information on the White House Project Education Fund, go to www.womensleadershipfund.org. For more information on the White House Project go to www.thewhitehouseproject.org.

New Moon publishes New Moon Magazine, the award-winning, international magazine written and edited by girls. It is one of the nation's only media outlets created by girls, for girls and about girls and covers a broad scope of topics including current girls' issues, girls' health, biographies of women in history and girls' lives outside of the U.S. (7/19/00)

See more tips on the CPSC Web site to ensure a safe and healthy holiday.

Research in various community and practice settings shows that between 4 and 12 percent of all school-age children may have ADHD, making it the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder. Children with ADHD may experience significant functional problems such as school difficulties, academic underachievement, troublesome relationships with family members and peers, and behavioral problems.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in ADHD as well as concerns about possible over diagnosis. In surveys among pediatricians and family physicians across the country, wide variations were found in diagnostic criteria and treatment methods for ADHD.

The new guidelines, designed for primary care physicians diagnosing ADHD in children age 6 to 12, include the following recommendations:

• ADHD evaluations should be initiated by the primary care clinician for children who show signs of school difficulties, academic underachievement, troublesome relationships with teachers, family members and peers, and other behavioral problems. Questions to parents, either directly or through a pre-visit questionnaire, regarding school and behavioral issues may help alert physicians to possible ADHD.
• In diagnosing ADHD, physicians should use DSM-IV criteria developed by the American Psychiatric Association. These guidelines require that ADHD symptoms be present in two or more of a child's settings, and that the symptoms adversely affect the child's academic or social functioning for at least six months.
• The assessment of ADHD should include information obtained directly from parents or caregivers, as well as a classroom teacher or other school professional, regarding the core symptoms of ADHD in various settings, the age of onset, duration of symptoms and degree of functional impairment.
• Evaluation of a child with ADHD should also include assessment for co-existing conditions: learning and language problems, aggression, disruptive behavior, depression or anxiety. As many as one-third of children diagnosed with ADHD also have a co-existing condition.
• Other diagnostic tests, sometimes considered positive indicators for ADHD, have been reviewed and considered not effective. These tests include lead screening, tests for generalized resistance to thyroid hormone, and brain image studies.

Comprehensive ADHD treatment guidelines are also in development. (5/1/00)