When buying gifts during the holiday season or any time of year, it is important to keep a child’s safety top of mind. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were more than 200,000 emergency department visits for toy-related injuries in the United States in 2022. Nonmotorized scooters accounted for the most injuries for all ages. Before checking…
Healthy foods are advertised less than 3% of the time in comparison to their junk food counterparts, and food and beverage companies spend about $2 billion per year on marketing that targets children. These ubiquitous messages make it more of a challenge for parents to model healthy behaviors for their children. However, there are behaviors parents can model at home to help…
Nearly 20% of children ages two to 19 years old could be characterized as obese – that’s about 14.7 million children. Recent studies have shown the percentage of obese children and teens is not only rising but is affecting kids earlier in their lives than ever before. The risk for obesity increases when most of an adolescent’s diet includes high-calorie foods, like vending machine snacks, fast…
About 25% of school-age children have a visual impairment. As the start of the school year approaches, many families are busy buying school supplies, scheduling haircuts, and visiting the doctor for an annual physical. It may be a good idea to add another appointment to the list: an eye exam. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends children have their vision screened at least…
Vaccines for infants and children save lives. Globally, it’s estimated that 2 million to 3 million deaths are prevented each year thanks to childhood vaccination efforts. In the U.S., experts estimate childhood vaccines among each birth cohort prevent 20 million illnesses and more than 40,000 deaths. From birth to age two years of age, health officials recommend infants and toddlers receive vaccinations on a…
To Mary Amsbury, a physical education teacher with Comstock Public Schools, February means one thing: time to jump rope. Jumping rope is a staple of the Kids Heart Challenge, a nationwide effort by the American Heart Association to teach children about the importance of their heart health and to raise money for children with special hearts. The week-long event looks different at every…
