Promises of healthier kids’ meals have drawn increasing numbers of families back to fast food restaurants, but most kids are still being served unhealthy options, a new survey finds. Nine out of 10 parents had purchased lunch or dinner for their child in the past week at one of the big four fast food chains… read on >
If you’re worried that too much “screen time” could be sapping your child’s intelligence, new research suggests you might be right. Kids with the sharpest intellects spent less than two hours a day on their cellphones, tablets and computers, coupled with 9 to 11 hours of sleep and at least an hour of physical activity,… read on >
The closeness of college dorms and cafeterias means students are prone to getting sick or acquiring infections. Colleges typically have a medical facility on campus that students can go to if they feel sick, but a more serious illness may require a visit to the emergency room. The American Academy of Pediatrics says college students… read on >
Regular exercise has plenty of benefits for kids, too, the American Heart Association says. Here’s the AHA’s list of how physical activity specifically helps children: It helps improve a child’s sleep patterns. It helps boost your child’s mood and energy. It helps the child unwind from the stresses of the day. It helps improve concentration… read on >
If Mom partakes of pot, her kids may be more likely to try it themselves at an earlier age. That’s the contention of a new study, though it doesn’t prove that one causes the other. Still, “early initiation is one of the strongest predictors of the likelihood of experiencing health consequences from marijuana use,” said… read on >
Following years of decline, fatal car accidents involving teen drivers have accelerated in the United States, a leading group of U.S. pediatricians warns. New research also reveals that teenage drivers are more likely to be involved in a serious or deadly crash than any other age group, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group… read on >
Breast milk from the bottle may not have as many benefits for a baby’s weight as feeding straight from the breast, a new study suggests. The researchers found what many others have: Overall, breastfed babies tended to have a healthier weight than those who were formula-fed. However, babies given pumped breast milk did not benefit… read on >
Skipping breakfast should not be an option for kids, no matter how tired they are, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Regular meals help growing bodies and developing brains. The ideal breakfast should be a healthy balance of fruits and vegetables, proteins, grains and dairy. The FDA suggests how to make the most of… read on >
For many children with asthma, coughing is an early warning sign of a flare-up, an expert says. Understanding asthma and knowing what to expect can help parents prevent or lessen the severity of asthma attacks, said Dr. Ronald Ferdman, a pediatric allergist-immunologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He provided the following tips to help parents… read on >
By fourth grade, girls in the United States read and write better than boys, a new study reveals. Australian researchers found this gender achievement gap appears in standardized tests and worsens over time. “The common thinking is that boys and girls in grade school start with the same cognitive ability, but this research suggests otherwise,”… read on >
