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Healthy Kids

Last Updated: Jul 31, 2017 11:11AM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM

Fresh Looks at Autism: Focusing on a Child’s Optimal Potential

Jul 31, 2017 11:11AM ● By Linda Sechrist

Parents today increasingly focus on the unique brilliance of their autistic children and build support networks that help them develop life skills.

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Colicky Babies Respond to Acupuncture: Solution to Help Reduce Crying

Jun 30, 2017 10:23AM

Swedish babies given acupuncture twice a week cried markedly less after only two weeks of treatment.

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Fun Ways to Get Outside This Summer: Be a Kid Again With Your Own Family

Jun 30, 2017 10:23AM ● By Sandra Murphy

From hiking to zip lines to camping, there are many enjoyable ways to explore nature all around our country, making the most of activities that appeal to all ages.

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Vitamin D Helps Babies Grow Strong Bones and Muscle: Supplement for Healthy Little Ones

May 31, 2017 11:04AM

Canadian infants given more than 400 IUD per day of vitamin D had stronger bones and muscle and less body fat at age 3.

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Family Screen Time: How to Set Boundaries in the Digital Era

May 31, 2017 11:03AM ● By Rachael Oppy

Many of today’s youngsters spend eight hours a day looking at a screen, which has serious repercussions on their well-being. Parental limits can help ensure a healthy balance of activities.

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Natural Motherhood: Creating the Best Start for New Life

Apr 28, 2017 11:20AM ● By Deborah Shouse

By making wise choices starting with diet and exercise, a mom-to-be can claim the gentle, joyous birth she wants for her baby.

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Prenatal Omega-3 Reduces Kids’ Asthma Risk: Supplement for Expectant Mothers

Apr 28, 2017 10:48AM

Babies born to mothers given 2.4 grams of omega-3 supplements in the third trimester of pregnancy had nearly a third lower risk of experiencing asthma by age 5.

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Negative Stereotypes Sabotage Girl Soccer Players: Exposure to Discouraging Viewpoints Affects Performance

Apr 28, 2017 10:47AM

Teenage girls performed worst in a soccer ball-dribbling drill after reading an article about the perceived incompetence of female soccer players.

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The Joys of Grandparenting: How to Mindfully Love Little Ones

Apr 28, 2017 10:47AM ● By April Thompson

We can be truly terrific grandparents when we both adore the grandkids and nurture their parents.

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Greener Diapers: Cloth Better than Disposable for People and the Planet

Apr 28, 2017 10:47AM

About 7.4 billion pounds of dirty plastic baby diapers pile up in landfills each year, yet cloth diapers offer clear environmental and cost advantages and even help with potty training.

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Sedentary Kids Lag in Reading Skills: Lower Scores in Less Active Boys

Mar 31, 2017 09:20AM

Young Finnish children that tend to be sedentary showed lower reading scores than peers that are generally physically active.

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New Wave: Kids Organize to Save Our Oceans

Mar 31, 2017 09:20AM ● By April Thompson

As Earth’s oceans continue to decline with disastrous consequences, youth around the world are joining forces to fight pollution and influence policymakers.

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Kids Going Online at Bedtime Sleep Poorly: Issues with Electronic Use at Night

Feb 28, 2017 11:25AM

British kids between 6 and 19 that used devices within 90 minutes of falling asleep were more likely to sleep badly and be sleepy during the day, which also can lead to poor diet choices.

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Wheezing Toddlers Prone to Food Allergies: Little Ones More Susceptible to Allergy Issues

Feb 28, 2017 11:25AM

Singapore toddlers that experienced eczema or wheezing in their first 18 months were more likely to have a food allergy at 36 months.

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Clean Jeans: Laundry Machines Boost School Attendance

Feb 28, 2017 11:25AM

More than 90 percent of struggling middle-school kids attended classes more often when they were able to bring their dirty clothes to school for washing in Whirlpool-donated machines.

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Silencing Cyberbullies: How to Defuse Bad Actors

Feb 28, 2017 11:25AM ● By April Thompson

A shocking 43 percent of middle-school students report being targeted by cyberbullies, but actions by students and adults can mute mean-kid attacks.

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Junior Achievement: Take the Kids to Work

Feb 28, 2017 11:25AM

On April 26, more than 3.5 million American workplaces will open to their doors to their employees’ children for memory-making experiences sure to last a lifetime.

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Infants Breathing Bad Air May Suffer as Teens: Study Links Air Pollutants to Lung Function

Jan 31, 2017 11:46AM

A Swedish study found that 15-year-olds that had been exposed as 1-year-olds to high levels of air pollutants had more difficulty getting air through their lungs.

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Keep Decay Away: Kids Do Best with Holistic Dentistry

Jan 31, 2017 11:45AM ● By Linda Sechrist

Simple preventive measures such as xylitol lollipops, teething rings, and not licking a spoon before offering little ones food can prevent painful dental surgery for children.

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Parents Use Complementary Health Care for Kids: Children Taking Part in Alternative Medicine or Practices

Dec 28, 2016 12:43PM

The latest American survey on the subject found that almost one in nine children used complementary medicine or practices, such as fish oil, probiotics, chiropractic care and yoga, in the previous year.

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Early-to-Bed Kids at Less Risk of Obesity: Keeping a Healthy Bedtime Schedule

Dec 28, 2016 12:43PM

Young children that were tucked into bed before 8 p.m., when examined 10 years later, had less than half the obesity rate of those that had gone to bed after 9 p.m.

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The Wild and Wooly Teen Brain: What Kids Need from Us to Grow Wise

Dec 28, 2016 12:43PM ● By April Thompson

Adolescent brains are wired for high emotions and thrill-seeking, which is why teens need honesty, trust and calm understanding from the adults in their lives.

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Autism Risk Linked to Banned Chemicals: Prenatal Exposure Increases Odds

Dec 28, 2016 12:43PM

Children born to mothers with high exposures to PCBs, DDT and other banned-but-still-present chemicals had a 50 to 82 percent greater chance of being born with autism.

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Teens Hooked on Ear Buds Prone to Tinnitus: Ringing in Ears Linked to Headphones

Nov 30, 2016 11:34AM

Half of a group of 170 teenagers that used ear buds reported bouts of ringing or buzzing in their ears.

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Why Some Kids Grow Up with Fewer Allergies: Connection to Thumb Sucking

Nov 30, 2016 11:33AM

Children that sucked their thumb or bit their nails had fewer allergies as adults, reports a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Merry Munching: Sugar-Free Treats Kids Love

Nov 30, 2016 11:33AM ● By Judith Fertig

Holidays bring out the sweet tooth in us all and clever options make sure that kids and adults don’t go into sugar overload.

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The Sensitive Child: How to Nurture Special Gifts

Oct 31, 2016 10:40AM ● By Maureen Healy

When parents understand how to meet their child’s unique needs, children harboring extreme empathy and other emotional sensitivities can accomplish much.

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Gut Bacteria Linked to Toddler Temperament: Researchers Find Correlation to Behavior

Oct 31, 2016 10:13AM

Toddlers with diverse gut bacteria proved to be more curious and sociable and less impulsive than toddlers with fewer types of bacteria.

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Exercising Women Have Fewer C-Sections: Fitness Routines Reduce Cesarean Deliveries

Oct 31, 2016 10:13AM

Women that worked out regularly during pregnancy had fewer cesarean deliveries and a lower risk of hypertension and diabetes.

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Heavy TV Watching Linked to Poor Bone Health: Risks of Excessive Television Time

Oct 31, 2016 10:13AM

Children between 5 and 20 years of age that watched more than 14 hours a week of TV had lower bone mineral content as young adults.

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Sore Throat Soothers: Natural Remedies Help Kids Heal

Sep 30, 2016 09:59AM ● By Kathleen Barnes

Salt water, lemon juice, honey and sage are some of the low-cost and highly effective ways to treat a child’s painful throat.

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Raising a Music Lover: Kids Thrive to Rhythms of Head and Heart

Aug 31, 2016 01:07PM ● By Randy Kambic

Adding an M for music to the three R’s boosts students’ self-confidence and bolsters not only their appreciation of music but also vocabulary and math skills.

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Vegan Diet Benefits Kids’ Heart Health: Promoting Plant-Based Foods for Children

Aug 31, 2016 12:44PM

Obese youngsters between the ages of 9 and 18 fared better in heart-health markers when adhering to a vegan plant-based diet than their counterparts following the American Heart Association diet.

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Breast Milk Supports Preemies’ Developing Brains: Increases Premature Babies' Brain Sizes

Aug 31, 2016 12:44PM

In a study of 77 premature infants, those that received at least half of their diet from breast milk had larger brain volumes, a possible indicator of better cognitive development.

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Kinesthetic Kids: New Desks Aid Learning via Movement

Aug 31, 2016 12:44PM

Students in a South Carolina school learn their spelling and math by rotating through 15 stations that combine learning exercises with play-ready basketball hoops or exercise bikes.

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Breastfed Babies Have Fewer Colds and Ear Infections: Prolonged Nursing Provides Protection

Aug 16, 2016 12:53PM

A six-year Texan study found that prolonged breastfeeding reduces both sniffles and painful earaches in newborns.

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Growing Up Empowered: Helping Kids Step into Their Best Selves

Jul 29, 2016 12:30PM ● By Judith Fertig

We build confidence in our children by encouraging their unique strengths, fostering their dreams, allowing healthy risks and engaging them in community service.

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Delayed Kindergarten Reduces Attention Deficit: Reason to Push Back Starting School

Jul 29, 2016 10:50AM

Danish children that start kindergarten at age 6 instead of 5 are far less likely to be inattentive or hyperactive five years later.

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Prenatal Sun Exposure Lowers Asthma Risk: Increased Vitamin D Reduces Likelihood

Jul 29, 2016 10:50AM

Perhaps because of the natural vitamin D supplied by sunlight, researchers found that children are less likely to have asthma if their mothers lived in a sunny location during the second trimester of pregnancy.

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Young Adult Insomnia Linked to Chronic Pain: Lack of Sleep Early On Leads to Complications Later in Life

Jul 29, 2016 10:50AM

About two in five Dutch adults between the ages of 19 and 22 that reported problems sleeping had chronic pain three years later.

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LOL TTYL: Hope for a New Generation

Jul 29, 2016 10:50AM

Despite their bad press, youngsters born between 1980 and 2000 are just as ambitious and tenacious as their parents and grandparents, new data shows.

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Yay for Play: Ways to Spark a Child’s Creativity

Jul 29, 2016 10:50AM ● By April Thompson

Creativity can be not only nurtured, but taught. When children engage in imaginary play and exploration, they build thinking skills, patience and resiliency.

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Mom’s Kitchen Counter Cooking School: Kids That Learn to Cook Grow Up Eating Healthier

Jun 30, 2016 10:57AM ● By Jen Haugen

Cooking is a skill passed along from mother to child, which is why it’s important to spend time in the kitchen teaching our children how to measure, pour and stir.

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ADHD Meds Weaken Kids’ Bones: Prescription Medicine Linked to Osteopenia

Jun 30, 2016 10:13AM

In a recent study, at least 25 percent of children between 8 and 17 taking such ADHD meds as Ritalin and Focalin were found to have osteopenia, early bone loss.

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Dad Matters: How to be the Father Kids Need

May 31, 2016 10:09AM ● By Armin Brott

When a dad is highly involved, the kids turn out to be smarter, more motivated and successful plus less likely to get into trouble.

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Seniors, Teens and Tykes: Enriching Programs Unite the Generations

Apr 29, 2016 11:02AM ● By Linda Sechrist

Booming numbers of both seniors and youngsters offer new opportunities for the two generations to learn from each other.

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Magnesium Improves Childbirth for Mother and Newborn: Reduces Fevers and Complications

Apr 29, 2016 10:02AM

Women given magnesium sulfate during childbirth suffered only half the number of fevers compared to a control group and their newborns had fewer complications.

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A Greener Shade of Youth: New Generations Put Earth First

Mar 31, 2016 10:28AM ● By Randy Kambic

As the planet warms up, teens and young adults are markedly more concerned about the environment and are educating themselves as they take action.

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Nighttime Parenting: Fostering Healthful Sleep

Feb 29, 2016 03:54PM ● By Stephanie Dodd

Up to 70 percent of American children have problems sleeping at night, but some simple steps help them get more shut-eye.

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Mindful Minutes for Little Ones: Yoga Helps Kids Focus and Relax

Jan 29, 2016 10:43AM ● By Julianne Hale

Children's developing bodies and minds respond to yoga on a deep level, both on and off the mat. Here is how kids can get started practicing yoga to reap the many health benefits.

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Kids Get Fewer Cavities When Mothers Chew Xylitol Gum: Reduces Oral Bacteria in Little Ones

Jan 29, 2016 10:07AM

Babies up to toddler age had 46 percent fewer strep infections when their mothers regularly chewed xylitol gum.

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Kids Learn Social Skills Through Pretending and Joking: Humor and Fantasy Play Increases Interpersonal Abilities

Jan 29, 2016 10:07AM

Toddlers that were joked around with and played “pretend” activities developed better interpersonal skills later in life.

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Unique Character: Sesame Street Addresses Autism

Dec 29, 2015 04:23PM

Creators of the popular kids’ puppet show are consulting with autism groups in creating a new autistic kid-character named Julia.

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Playing Outside Before Lunch Spurs Kids to Eat Healthier: Recess First, Cafeteria Second

Dec 29, 2015 04:23PM

Grade-school kids chow down more often on fruits and veggies for lunch if they eat after recess rather than before.

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Asbestos Found in Crayons and Children’s Toys: Deadly Chemical in Made-in-China Products

Nov 30, 2015 09:48AM

Some popular toys made in China, including crayons and lab kits, contain deadly asbestos, reports the Environmental Working Group.

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Generous Pint-Sized Givers: Teaching Kids How to Care and Share

Nov 30, 2015 09:47AM ● By Jennifer Jacobson

Walking children through the process of being helpful to others can instill lifelong habits of altruism.

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What’s Your Child’s EQ?: Six Ways to Raise Emotional Intelligence

Oct 30, 2015 10:31AM ● By Teal Swan

By listening closely to our children and validating their emotions, we can empower them to better handle tough situations, sometimes all on their own.

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Animal Friends Soothe Autistic Children: Relief for Stressful Social Situations

Oct 30, 2015 09:59AM

If they play with a guinea pig before reading in front of other children, autistic children suffer significantly less social anxiety, Purdue University researchers have found.

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Antidepressants in Pregnancy Raises Risk of Hypertension in Kids: Heart Issues Face the Unborn

Oct 30, 2015 09:59AM

Children born to pregnant women taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or other antidepressant drugs have a 40-50 percent higher chance of high blood pressure in childhood.

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Early Puberty: The New Normal?

Sep 30, 2015 10:18AM ● By Kathleen Barnes

American girls often start physically maturing these days before age 10—a dramatic drop in the onset rate of puberty that appears linked to diet, chemicals and stress.

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U.S. Kids Not Drinking Enough Liquids: Children in America are Dehydrated

Sep 30, 2015 09:25AM

More than half of U.S. kids ages 6 to 19 are insufficiently hydrated.

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Music and Audio Books Help Kids Move Past Pain: Soothing Sounds

Sep 30, 2015 09:25AM

After major surgery, children that listened to their favorite music or an audio book felt significantly less pain.

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Whole Child Sports: Free Play Earns the Winning Score

Aug 31, 2015 11:57AM ● By Luis Fernando Llosa

Parents may believe organized sports are best for kids, but free play is actually what makes kids creative, resilient and better problem-solvers.

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Think Before You Ink: How to Make Body Art Safe and Reversible

Jul 31, 2015 10:48AM ● By April Thompson

A tattoo that feels adventurous today can cut off future adventures, especially when it comes to jobs.

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Constipated Kids Helped by Tummy Massage: Brings Natural Relief for Kids

Jul 31, 2015 10:19AM

Twenty minutes a day of abdominal massage relieved chronic constipation in 87 percent of children participating in a University of Washington study.

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Enlightened Parenting: Tips for Raising Confident and Loving Kids

Jul 31, 2015 10:18AM ● By Meredith Montgomery

Being a conscious parent means opening ourselves to a child’s true needs for both direction and autonomy.

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Produce Produces Heftier Newborns: Fruits and Veggies Linked to Healthy Birth Weights

Jul 31, 2015 10:18AM

Pregnant women that eat lots of fruits and veggies give birth to babies with higher birth weight, which is linked to better brain development throughout the infant’s life.

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Adventures in Nature: Families Create Memories at Nearby Parks

Jun 30, 2015 10:16AM ● By Harriet Shugarman

Showing off the glories of nature to our kids can be as easy as taking off to the nearest state park for a camping weekend.

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Eating Peanuts Early On Reduces Allergy Risk: Decrease Chances of Reactions Later in Life

Jun 30, 2015 10:14AM

Scientists have found that letting high-risk children eat peanuts before their first birthday sharply slashes their allergy risk.

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Natural Dads: How They Raise Conscious Kids

May 29, 2015 11:32AM ● By Lane Vail

Dads that are highly involved in their kids’ lives can impart critical lessons about caring, eco-ethical choices and daily resourcefulness.

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