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1 - Child Health Alert

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7 views2 pages

1 - Child Health Alert

Uploaded by

maltesleandro06
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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their children's health. The number "When do children and teens need ...

And Children
of illnesses that can be prevented is vaccinations?". Produced by the non-
growing at a remarkable pace, and profit Immunization Action Coalition, Need Sleep
with all the vaccines now being rec- this guide provides a simple outline
ommended, it can be difficult to keep ofthe recommended vaccines and Many reports have pointed out
track of which ones should be given when they should be given, from that many adults may not get enough
at a particular age. To help, we're birth to adolescence. We invite read- sleep, and this can lead to difficulties
enclosing with this issue of CHILD ers to share it with friends and col- staying awake and problems with
HEALTH ALERT a flyer entitled leagues, and hope you find it useful. D job performance. But the National
Association of Elementary School
Principals is campaigning to get
"equal time" for children. Sleep
problems can be caused by some-
CHILD DEVELOPMENT thing as simple as staying up late or
as complicated as biologic problems.

Babies Need Exercise... Whatever the cause, it's impor-


tant to be able to identify when chil-
Babies like to move around a lot, dren aren't getting enough sleep.
but too many times they're confined While some signs might be obvious,
for long periods in strollers, baby such as yawning and daytime sleepi-
seats, or playpens. Also, TV and ness, children who don't get enough
video games keep a lot of pre- sleep can have a wide range of prob-
schoolers from being physically lems that may not seem related.
active for longer periods of time They may not concentrate well on
than parents might realize. So the school work, or their symptoms can
National Association for Sport and mimic some attention deficit disor-
Physical Activity is recommending ders as well as learning and behavior
simple but targeted daily activities problems. As one expen noted,
for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. "Sleepy kids may move around a lot.
The goal isn't to develop baby gym They may appear hyperactive but
classes, but rather to provide com- dren, balancing games or tumbling. what they're doing is trying to keep
monsense, fun activities that make themselves alert and awake." (New
-Each day, toddlers and preschoolers
exercise a part of normal everyday York Times News Service, January
should spend at least one hour in free
life in the hope that children will 30, 2002)
play—exploring, experimenting, imi-
grow up to be active rather than tating. Caregivers should provide safe
contribute to the growing problem objects to ride, push, pull, balance on,
of obesity that can result from lack and climb. COMMENT: It's important to
of exercise. recognize that when they don't get
-Avoid keeping infants and toddlers enough sleep, children may react
Among the guidelines, the group in restrictive settings (such as baby very differently from adults, and that
recommends: seats) for long periods of time. in many cases their behaviors look
-Except when they're sleeping, toddlers very much like symptoms of atten-
-As part of each day. an infant should and preschoolers shouldn't be seden- tion deficit hyperactivity disorder
have a structured activity (such as tary for more than an hour at a time. (ADHD). While no one has yet said
patty-cake, being carried to and how often sleepiness might be con-
exploring a new environment) Finally, they point out that physical fused with ADHD, parents, teachers,
-Each day, toddlers should have at activity shouldn't be forced or used as and others can make a real differ-
least 30 minutes of structured physi- punishment, but rather should be a ence by recognizing that in some
cal activity and preschoolers should routine part of daily life—and parents children with learning and behavior
have at least an hour. Examples for should join in, not just sit on the side- problems, the problem just might be
toddlers include follow-along songs lines and watch their children romp. something as simple as their getting
or chasing a ball, and for older chil- (Associated Press, February 7, 2002) too little sleep. CI

Child Health ALERT March 2002

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