National Screen-Free Week: Turn Off to Tune In

This week, April 30 – May 6, 2012, is National Screen-Free Week. This annual event is a program of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and is designed to encourage parents, children, teachers, schools and communities across the country to turn off all forms of screen-based media, including television, video games, computers, cell phones, etc., and instead spend time with family and friends and participating in other activities, such as reading, daydreaming, exploring nature, playing outside, and more.

Formerly known as TV-Turnoff Week, the CCFC has expanded it to include all screen-based media. It is the organization’s goal that Screen-Free Week will be a “springboard for important lifestyle changes that will improve well-being and quality of life all year round.”

The ever-increasing availability of technology and electronic devices has dramatically increased the amount of time kids (and adults) spend in front of a screen and has drastically reduced the time spent on non-media based activities. The CCFC estimates the amount of time preschoolers spend in front of a screen is 32 hours a week, and even more time is spent by older children and teens. The amount of time spent with screen-based media has reduced time spent outdoors, time spent with family and friends, time spent engaged in sports and other forms of fitness and has contributed to the childhood obesity problem. Too much screen time can also lead to poor school performance, sleep problems, and behavioral issues in some children and teens.

I’ve lost count of how many parents have talked with me about how their children’s behavior changes after playing video games or watching television, especially if those games or shows involved any violence or aggressiveness at all. I’ve seen firsthand how video games affected one of my nephews and would turn him from a sweet, caring boy to an aggressive, defiant child. After the problem continued to worsen, my sister made the drastic decision to no longer allow any video games. At first my nephew whined and begged to play, but as time went on he found other ways to occupy his time and entertain himself and his behavior at home and even at school greatly improved. At the age of 10, even he realizes the negative effect video games can have on him if he spends too much time with them. Of course, every child is different and not all are adversely affected by media and technology, but even if they are not, over-use and over-stimulation can still be a problem.

Screen-based media can also interfere with with kids’ ability for creative, imaginative play. Turning off the screens for a week can help them tune into their imaginations, especially if you encourage them to play with toys that promote creativity. Introduce your kids to some of your favorite childhood pastimes and participate with them. Instead of screen-based electronic games, play board games or go outside and play hide and seek, freeze tag, or a fun sport. Go for a bike ride or a walk around your local park. There are so many ways to spend time together and have fun without any technology at all, your family may even decide to turn off the screens more often!

Certainly technology has improved our ability to do many things, including educate our children, but we need to be aware of the harm that over-use can cause and use screen-time wisely. Taking a break from the abundance of screens in our world can be a healthy way to detox and reconnect with our family and friends face to face.

This week, consider participating in Screen-Free Week, turn off the screens and tune in to everything else around us.

For more information about Screen-Free Week, visit CommercialFreeChildhood.org.

April 30, 2012 | Filed Under Community | 2 Comments 

Can My 12-Year Old Catch Chickenpox While Baby-sitting?

Chickenpox is a viral infection that we primarily recognize as a disease with a very uncomfortable, itchy rash. It can sometimes lead to serious side effects, including pneumonia and bacterial infections. Fortunately, a vaccine was developed in the 1970s for the prevention of chickenpox and has been routinely used in the United States since 1995. It will prevent the disease in 85 to 90 percent of exposed children, and the protection lasts for 20 years.

Your daughter is certainly susceptible at her age. If she was immunized, she should be protected from this exposure. If not, she could still get a dose of vaccine within 72 hours of exposure, which should prevent any serious manifestations of the disease. But it won’t stop her from getting sick.



April 25, 2012 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

Child Health & Safety News Roundup: 04-16-2012 to 04-22-2012

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world.

Each day we use Twitter to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and other caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues who are not on Twitter (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 25 news-worthy events.

PedSafe Headline of the Week:

Help your kids stay safe on prom night http://t.co/gqcd3sgw Terrific tips!!

April 24, 2012 | Filed Under Awareness | 1 Comment 

Safety Checklist for Kids on Their Way to School

We’ve been following the news about Sierra LaMar, a 15-year-old who disappeared near her home in Morgan Hill, CA sometime between a text message sent to a friend and nine minutes later when she didn’t show up to her school bus on March 16. Reports Thursday say that police no longer think she may have run away and believe that she was most likely kidnapped, potentially by someone she knows.

We don’t know what happened to Sierra but it’s hard not to fear the worst and to wish that she had known whatever it was she needed to know to stay safe: not to let someone she wasn’t expecting into her house, to be cautious even if it is someone you know, to keep out of reach of someone on the sidewalk, not to take a ride even from an acquaintance without checking first – and as soon as she knew she had trouble; to yell, run, make a scene, and to fight to protect herself.

Even after hundreds of people have searched for her – finding only her purse, backpack and cellphone – it’s still difficult to know yet what has happened. Our hearts go out to her family and friends who are all waiting to hear from her.

Today we are posting a one-page Kidpower Safety For Kids On Their Way To School Checklist download the pdf) that we’ve compiled for parents about how to prepare their kids to be ready to make safe choices and get help while on their way to and from school, or anywhere else that they are allowed to go on their own.

TALK together to make a Safety Plan so your kids will know:

  • They are safest staying in groups and, if they are younger, with an adult you select.
  • To always get permission from you or another adult in charge before they change their plan about going anywhere with anyone, whether it is a stranger or someone they know.
  • To always get your permission about where they go, who will be with them, and what they will be doing.
  • That a stranger is someone they do not know well, can look like anybody, and might know their name.
  • That most people are good and most strangers are good, but they do not know what someone is like just by how that person looks or acts.
  • To NOT get close to a stranger, talk to a stranger, take anything from a stranger, or go with a stranger – unless they have their adult’s permission.
  • If they are old enough to talk to a stranger, to stay out of reach and not give personal information.
  • To move away toward safety and get help if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or tries to approach them.
  • How to get help in an emergency from people you’ve designated along their route.
  • To tell a trusted adult every time someone makes them feel uncomfortable or scared.

WALK together to determine:

  • The safest route to follow on the way to and from school on foot, by bus, or by bike that will avoid isolated places, difficult streets to cross, and other hazards.
  • Where to go and who to ask for help if kids have a safety problem on route — preferably adults you have introduced them to — in a church, store, neighbor’s house, bus, etc.
  • What to do if kids get lost, if they cannot stay on their route, or if someone bothers them.
  • Each child’s safety readiness for going on her or his own without adult supervision.

PRACTICE together until you are SURE your kids are prepared to:

  • Use their awareness to notice and avoid safety problems from people, traffic, or other possible trouble.
  • Act aware, calm, and confident in every situation.
  • Move quickly out of reach from a stranger or anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Follow their safety plan even if a friend tries to persuade them to do otherwise.
  • Find a place with people to help them if they get lost or have to change their route.
  • Yell “NO! I NEED HELP!” and run to a safe place to get help if they feel scared.
  • Yell, pull away, hit and kick to escape from an attack.
  • Be persistent in getting help, even if adults are busy or impatient.
  • Find and use a telephone so they can call a trusted adult for help or 911 in an emergency

April 20, 2012 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

Does Your Lactose Intolerant Child Get Enough Calcium?

If your child gets a stomachache after eating dairy, it could be a sign she is lactose intolerant. This means she has trouble digesting lactose, a sugar found in milk. But you can still make sure she gets enough calcium for her growing bones. Serve cheese, which doesn’t contain lactose, or lactose-free milk, which you can find in the dairy section at the supermarket. Or simply give her a Lactaid supplement before she eats dairy products. Available at drugstores, the supplement breaks down lactose so it can be easily digested. There are also plenty of good nondairy calcium sources, such as fortified orange juice, cereals and soy beverages, as well as spinach and other dark leafy greens. All kids (and adults) should eat three to four servings of calcium-rich foods each day. Don’t resort to supplements unless you absolutely have to; your body absorbs the mineral better from food. Finally, make sure your child gets a good dose of physical activity each day. Exercise increases the amount of calcium the bones take in.



April 18, 2012 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

Child Health & Safety News Roundup: 04-09-2012 to 04-15-2012

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world.

Each day we use Twitter to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and other caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues who are not on Twitter (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 25 news-worthy events.

PedSafe Headline of the Week:

Baby bike seat poses finger amputation risk – The Boston Globe http://t.co/T2USIUA3

April 17, 2012 | Filed Under Awareness | 4 Comments