Black Children Dying From Diabetes
Thursday, November 29, 2007
I ran into an article today that absolutely jolted my senses: More Black Children Dying From Diabetes. Although the article's headline sounds scary enough, the numbers are not as bad as it appears. According to the Nov. 16 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 89 children died from diabetes between 2003-2004. Despite these relatively small numbers, however, black children were more than twice as likely to die from diabetes than white children.
From 2003 to 2004, the diabetes death rate per million for children and teens was 2.46 for blacks and 0.91 for whites, the report found.Most of these children died from extremely low insulin levels who eventually went into a diabetic coma and eventually died.
"These complications are readily recognizable in children and don't require a great deal of technology to treat them," CDC epidemiologist Dr. Laura L. Polakowski said. "The rate of death among black children can be lower, because there is a lower rate among white children," she said.As a parent there are several ways to prevent your child from getting diabetes. Make sure your child eats plenty of fruits and vegetables; cut the amount of colas, sweet drinks and fruit juices they drink; curb TV, computer and video game time; and make sure that your child gets regular, vigorous exercise. For more information visit the American Diabetes Association.
posted by Jennifer James @ Thursday, November 29, 2007,
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Young Cancer Patients Respond Favorably To Music Therapy
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Young cancer patients between the ages of 4 and 7 show significant improvements dealing with stress when their hospital care includes music-based activities. Children who participated in "active music engagement" were more apt to smile and laugh; turn the pages of a book while playing; fix their eyes on an activity; or initiate a comment, question or request from a parent, sibling or other person."Those are not things kids tend to do when they are under stress. They tend to withdraw and shut down," said Dr. Sheri L. Robb, a behavioral oncology fellow in the School of Nursing at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the study's principal investigator.
When young cancer patients are confined to the hospital for long stretches of time their coping mechanisms can be threatened. "The study supports the use of music-based activities to help hospitalized pediatric oncology patients, says Robb, who is also a certified music therapist. The coping behaviors studied included positive facial affect, behavioral engagement and initiation."
posted by Jennifer James @ Wednesday, November 28, 2007,
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Soil Exhibit at the Smithsonian
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
If there wasn't enough to learn about the earth already, museum goers will soon be able to learn about every facet of the nation's soil. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the world's most visited natural history museum, will launch a new exhibit about soil conservation and sustainability.Opening next year on July 19, 2008 "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil" will feature a collection of state soils, hands-on educational games, multimedia programs, a large-screen theater, and other activities that will demonstrate to visitors the vital link between soil and the health of mankind, the environment, and our planet.
The soils exhibit will occupy a 5,000 square foot space and will be on display until January 2010.
To learn more visit https://www.soils.org/smithsonian or http://forces.si.edu/soil.
posted by Jennifer James @ Tuesday, November 27, 2007,
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Original Art for Children
Monday, November 26, 2007
If you have a daughter, I don't know how partial she is to Angelina Ballerina, but I will say my daughters absolutely love her! I have to admit, I love Angelina Ballerina as well. She's such a lovely character with plenty of charm and loads of ambition. Plus, she lives in a happy community of friends and family that I find refreshing. You may not know that you can order original Angelina Ballerina drawings by Helen Craig. To be such classic originals they are quite affordable. Visit Images of Delight to see pieces for sale and to browse other illustrators and their work.
If these works are a bit pricey for your pocketbook, I recommend taking an e-jaunt over to Ned Design. Neds are whimsical children's characters created by Susie Lubell. They're great to decorate any children's room with something other than run-of-the mill posters.
Labels: children
posted by Jennifer James @ Monday, November 26, 2007,
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Surviving the Holidays With Diabetes, Expert Weighs In
Monday, November 19, 2007
The holidays can be a harrowing time for diabetics as there is no end to sugary sweet, carbohydrate-laden foods to tempt everyone's taste buds, not just diabetics. However, if you or your children have diabetes, you must be particularly careful about overeating during the holidays. Pam Davis, R.D., L.D., CDE, certified diabetes educator at Baylor Medical Center at Garland, says, "Establish what you will and won't allow yourself. For example, if you know you’re going to want some dessert at your friend’s dinner party, reserve some of your 'carbohydrate budget' out of the rest of the meal."At the office potluck, you can still taste a bit of everything by using portion control. "Don’t punish yourself by saying "I can’t have that'—instead, try a spoonful of all the items you’d like to sample," says Davis. You won't feel overly full, you'll be happy that you tried everything, and you can compliment your co-workers on the dishes they brought.
Once you have a plan for the food you will sample, be sure to exercise. Pam Davis recommends mall walking as it is a great time to buy gifts and get your exercise at the same time.
For more information about Baylor Medical Center at Garland, visit http://www.BaylorHealth.com.
Labels: health
posted by Jennifer James @ Monday, November 19, 2007,
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November 19th is Child Abuse Prevention Day
Friday, November 16, 2007
According to the Department of Health and Human Services over 3 million cases of child abuse are reported each year, 60 percent of which are deemed serious enough to warrant an investigation. November 19th is Child Abuse Prevention Day and there are several things you can do to help prevent child abuse and neglect.Melissa Jonson-Reid, Ph.D., a child welfare expert and a professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis, offers these suggestions to get involved in protecting children from abuse.
1. Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care. More information is available at http://www.nationalcasa.org/about_us/index.html
2. Check with your local Department of Transportation to see if they offer Children's Trust Fund license plates or something similar.
3. Join an organization that helps lobby for and support child protection and child welfare efforts like the American Humane Association, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), or the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (IPSCAN). A detailed list of organizations across the world that work on issues related to child abuse and neglect can be found at this link.
4. Volunteer with your local crisis nursery program. Crisis nurseries offer residential care with the hopes that they can prevent abuse or neglect by caring for the children briefly while a parent addresses the current crisis.
5. Consider a career in policy, programs or intervention that prevent child maltreatment and/or assist children who have experienced maltreatment. A discussion of careers in child welfare can be found at this link.
Reading Resources
Broken Children, Grown-Up Pain (Revised): Understanding the Effects of Your Wounded Past
Helping Abused and Traumatized Children: Integrating Directive and Nondirective Approaches
Beyond Betrayal: Taking Charge of Your Life after Boyhood Sexual Abuse
posted by Jennifer James @ Friday, November 16, 2007,
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Comics Come to the Web
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I remember when I was a kid my older brother had boxes and boxes of comic books all packed away neatly in their original plastic slipcovers. His comic books were off limits to all of his younger siblings - me, included, and were his most prized possession. Times have changed, though, and kids aren't into comic books like they once were. So many other devices have grabbed their attention instead such as cable TV, game systems, iPods, cell phones and digital cameras. Who has time to read a comic book?
But, in an effort to gain more youthful readers, Marvel Comics is putting some of its original comic books online to reintroduce children to the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and X-Men.
"You don't have that spinner rack of comic books sitting in the local five-and-dime any more," said Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Publishing. "We don't have our product intersecting kids in their lifestyle space as much as we used to."I, frankly, think it's a great idea. I remember when times were simpler and entertainment for kids started with a good comic book.
On the Net:
Marvel Comics
DC Comics
posted by Jennifer James @ Wednesday, November 14, 2007,
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Magic Cabin -- Fun Toys to Bolster a Child's Imagination
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I received a Magic Cabin catalog in the mail today. Luckily for it I didn't instantly throw it in the garbage like I usually do with all of the catalogs I have absolutely no use for. For some odd reason I decided to flip through the Magic Cabin catalog and I'm glad that I did. I found toys that are not only safe, but also help bolster a child's imagination and creative spirit.
Here are a few toys that just knocked my socks off. They'll also be great for the holidays.
Perfect Picnic
Boats That Really Float
Other Great Toys
City Play Set - A Magic Cabin Hot Product!
Mini Kitchen Set - Magic Cabin Best Sellers!
Animal Costumes - Magic Cabin Best Sellers!
Chinese Paper Balls - Great Gift, Click Here!
Labels: toys
posted by Jennifer James @ Tuesday, November 13, 2007,
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Living a Healthy Lifestyle With Asthma
Monday, November 12, 2007
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) were presented during the Annual Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recently. According to the Institute, 23 million people live with asthma every day, 6.5 million of them are children.“Asthma is not an event, it is a chronic disease that can be managed so that symptoms are controlled and severe attacks are prevented,” said Michael B. Foggs, M.D chief of asthma, allergy and immunology, Advocate Health Care, Chicago. “The guidelines underscore the fact that people who are diagnosed with asthma do not have to suffer breathing difficulties or cut back on their activities. We want to make this a reality for all asthma patients.”
Ongoing Monitoring and Management
According to Dr. Foggs, the guidelines put a new emphasis on the physician-patient partnership and ongoing monitoring and management. Specific recommendations include: :
• All patients with asthma should be monitored by a doctor every one to six months, regardless of how severe their condition is and whether they are experiencing symptoms.
• Every patient should have a written asthma action plan with instructions for daily treatment and what to do if symptoms become worse. The action plan should be developed by a doctor or nurse, with input from the patient, and shared with all those who interact with the patient such as family members, teachers and coaches.
• Education that takes into account cultural background and literacy should be part of asthma care, and patients should play an active role in managing their condition.
• Asthma treatment based on severity is classified in six steps, rather than four in previous guidelines. A stepwise approach to treatment is still recommended, with medication stepped up or increased when asthma symptoms increase and stepped down, if possible, when asthma is under control.
“When patients and physicians work together to follow these guidelines, asthma symptoms can be prevented and patients can participate in all activities, and not miss days of work or school because of asthma. No one should expect anything less,” Dr. Foggs said.
Reading References
Natural Relief for Your Child's Asthma: A Guide to Controlling Symptoms & Reducing Your Child's Dependence on Drugs
Free Your Child from Asthma
Control Your Child's Asthma: A Breakthrough Program for the Treatment and Management of Childhood Asthma
posted by Jennifer James @ Monday, November 12, 2007,
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Holiday Movie Reviews for Kids
Friday, November 9, 2007
The holidays are synonymous with great movies and the good folks at Common Sense Media have put together a timely and thorough Holiday Family Movie Guide with reviews of all the children's movies of the season. From Fred Clause to A Perfect Holiday, you are certain to find a movie to suit your tastes and provide child-friendly entertainment for you and the kids. Labels: entertainment
posted by Jennifer James @ Friday, November 09, 2007,
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Safe Cough and Cold Remedies for Children
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Now that the FDA has recommended cough and cold medicine not be given to children under six, you are probably wondering what you should do when your child becomes ill this winter. Here are some suggestions from Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. • Use nasal saline drops.
• Elevate the head of the crib.
• Use a humidifier.
“Most of the viruses and common colds that circulate every year go away on their own without any medication,” adds Dr. Benzick, pediatrician on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. “These medications only help relieve the symptoms—not kill the virus. Usually, a virus like that will run its course in about five to 10 days.”
Reading Resources
An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants
Labels: health
posted by Jennifer James @ Tuesday, November 06, 2007,
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Violent TV Linked to Aggressive Behavior in Boys
Monday, November 5, 2007
Watching violent television programs between the ages of 2 and 5 clearly creates aggressive and anti-social behavior in boys between the ages of 7 and 9, says a new study published this month in Pediatrics."This new study provides further evidence of how important and powerful television and media are as young children develop," said Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH at the Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and the University of Washington School of Medicine. "However, the news here is not all bad. While we found that shows like violent cartoons or football can make children more aggressive, we found no such effect for other programs such as educational ones. This points out that parents must be informed and very selective when making media choices for their children."
The researchers suggest that parents limit the amount of television their children watch and instead of allowing violent themes to permeate their children's TV viewing to instead opt for high quality, educational programming.
Labels: children, education, health
posted by Jennifer James @ Monday, November 05, 2007,
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Great New Book: Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers
Friday, November 2, 2007
Mart
ell Cognac hosted a high profile book launch party for Rachel Vassel's new book, Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers
.Celebs like Holly Robinson Peete, Sugar Ray Leonard and Serena Williams were on hand to celebrate the release of this fabulous book celebrating black women and the fathers in their lives. There were also readings by Malinda Williams and Robi Reed, and a performance by Gospel duet Mary Mary.
Buy Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers
Labels: books
posted by Jennifer James @ Friday, November 02, 2007,
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