MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'child development'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:58:58 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4580893&cid=t_97561_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpregnant-women-and-exposure-to-paint%2F2011.03.13 I came across an article the other day about paint and pregnancy. Yes, that paint — the kind that you put on a canvas or slap on your walls. Did you know that paint is made of pigment particles in a liquid base called a medium? Oil paints are thinned or cleaned with paint thinners. Latex paints are thinned or cleaned with water. Most paint that’s used in the home is latex. Can environmental forces affected pregnancy? The short answer is “yes,” according to the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), whose mission is to study malformations of the unborn. Regarding paint and pregnancy, the amount of exposure is important. A one-time household exposure causes fewer problems than ongoing exposure through a work setting. And there have been medical stu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4580893 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:00:06 +0100 4580893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532260&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F24670412%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7EBrain-Rules-for-Baby.htm Review: Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five Want to make your baby a genius? There’s good news and bad news. The bad news: virtually all of the commercial products that claim to boost your baby’s IQ have no proven effect. The good news: there ARE [...] CommentsJennifer, the cool thing is this book isn't pushing any snake ... by Roger DooleyI smell a bestseller. This is exactly the kind of book that ... by JenniferRelated StoriesWhat Your Dog Can Teach You About CustomersKeep it Simple for Boomers & Seniors25-Cent Creativity Booster (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532260 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:34:46 +0100 4532260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482757&cid=t_97561_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fworking-mom-overweight-kid%2F2011.02.15 A study about working mothers is getting a lot of buzz. The official title of the paper is ”Maternal Employment, Work Schedules, and Childen’s Body Mass Index.” Most media summaries, however, are entitled something like this: “Mothers Who Work Have Fat Kids.” I’m not kidding. I hate seeing studies and media reports like this. Not because they’re not helpful or worthy of our time, but because they examine the effect of mothers working — not mothers and fathers working — on our childrens’ health. In addition, the media/blogosphere goes bananas. This is the stuff that sells — studies on working moms get our attention. They feed the so-called “mommy wars.” They suggest that with the rise of women in the work force over the last five decades, our... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482757 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:00:45 +0100 4482757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197211&cid=t_97561_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FmwLJROCT-s0%2F A child’s brain is a perfect example of neuroplasticity: As the child learns basic and complex skills, his or her brain changes, connections between neurons are strengthened or eliminated. Here are 10 top questions and answers to explore the developing brain and get a better window on young minds. Following the Q&A find related relevant resources (links, documentaries, and books) to go further. . 10 questions and answers about a child’s brain development Q: Does brain development depend only on genes? A: No, brain development is the result of a complex interaction between both genes and environment. Brain development begins in utero. Billions of neurons are generated. They migrate from their birthplace in the embryo to their final positions. Axons and dendrites grow and c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197211 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:56:31 +0100 4197211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3848855&cid=t_97561_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fgirls-are-reaching-puberty-ealier-study-says%2F Training bras and first periods have long been the bane of an early teenage girl’s existence, but according to a recent study, puberty is plaguing girls at younger and younger ages. Twice as many Caucasian girls showed breast maturity, an early sign of puberty, at age 7 between 2004 and 2006, compared to 1997, according to a study published on Monday in Pediatrics. The study, led by Dr. Frank Biro, director of the division of adolescent medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, is ongoing and will continue to track the same group of girls as they begin to menstruate and reach adulthood. They suspect that obesity and environmental hormones are to blame for shifting puberty onset, but will continue to study the girls as they age and hope to find blood markers that can help ide... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3848855 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:24:48 +0100 3848855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060656&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2Fthe_essence_of_the_human_experience_what_is_normal.php This is the fifth in a series of articles on Emotional Intelligence for Personal Growth. Probably all of us have asked our self from time to time if our thoughts, feelings, or behavior at any single moment is "normal". Actually, there are different answers for each one of these. Normal behavior is, like it or not, defined by our legal, community (family, neighborhood, social group) and religious institutions. The law is enforced by our local police, and sanctioned by our courts. Religious values might be said to be collectively defined by our church going population and it's leadership. If we are observed behaving outside of legal boundaries, we may find ourselves in a court room facing a judge. If we stretch our community or religious values, we might be ostracized, and separated from t... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060656 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:49:27 +0100 4060656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3448828&cid=t_97561_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fways-to-make-your-child-smarter%2F Though intelligence is definitely genetic in many ways, it can be nurtured by the right environment and stimuli. In other words, you can help stimulate your child’s mind to make your kid smarter. Image: istockphoto Play video games And you thought video games made kids brain dead! Well it depends on which games they play. Look for games that encourage strategy, planning and creativity. Offer music lessons According to a University of Toronto study, the more years a child takes music lessons, the better grades he’ll achieve in high school and the higher IQ he will have as an adult. Serve healthy food options Foods that are high in sugar and/or trans fats and low in other nutrients should be avoided. Give your children plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3448828 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:56:33 +0100 3448828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977422&cid=t_97561_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fmedia-michael-rutter-interview-on-bbc.html Listen to an interview with Dr. Michael Rutter on BBC Radio 4's All In The Mind programme:Click here for a link to the podcast. (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977422 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:35:00 +0100 2977422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930903&cid=t_97561_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Fhealthy-child-programme-the-two-year-review%2F Title: Healthy Child Programme: two year review Skinny: The two year review aims to optimise child development and emotional wellbeing, and to reduce inequalities..  It provides practitioners, particularly health visitors, with information and tools to use with parents. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 50p Published: 27/10/2009 Posted in Children, Grey Literature, Health Visiting, Infants, NHS, Parenting, Primary Care Tagged: Child Development, Equity, Grey Literature, Health Visitors, Parenting (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930903 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:42:25 +0100 2930903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060668&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2Fsandra_bullock_sick_of_societys_rules_has_message.php Sandra Bullock makes some very solid points about the continued double moral standard between men and women in our society. It is only by repeated public statements will the culture begin to shift. However, she missed the universal point. I don't think a young boy would escape the slash of verbal harassment about having a lisp. While there is a natural push for social culture to demand a certain level of conformity, children do not understand the limits of this wisdom or can reason through the paradox of conformity for the sake of conformity. [Soap box time] Children need the leadership of adults in social settings, primarily schools, to learn tolerance and the dangers of scapegoating. Adults continue to abdicate this role, parents pointing at schools, schools pointing at parents. During... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060668 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:50:22 +0100 4060668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060670&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2Fsilence_that_idiot_box_the_boston_globe.php Many of the boomer adults were raised with a lot of TV. It would appear things have gotten worse. We know a lot more about what TV does to children, but it doesn't appear to have had much effect. Simple logic will tell us that the experience of TV will decrease a child's ability to tolerate a delay in gratification of desires. Certainly, the TV ads are designed to create the desire for things we didn't know we needed, a certain frustration that we can't have it all, now. But it's much worse than that. Image via Wikipedia John M Grohol PsyD owner of PsychCentral.com is usually a man who politely understates things. But, he pulls no punches in a recent article. "Most child psychologists and child development experts recommend no TV whatsoever for a child before the age of 2 or 3. None. Y... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060670 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:00:23 +0100 4060670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785978&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.neurosciencemarketing.com%2Fblog%2Farticles%2Fpraise-your-child.htm I don’t often get into neuro-parenting here, but I thought this particular research finding was interesting enough to single out. (I mentioned it in my Managing by Mistakes post last week, too.) The short story is that a lot of what parents and teachers think about praising children and building self-esteem is dead wrong. [...] Related posts:Managing by MistakesPreschool Branding?Nonprofit Marketing: The Power of Personalization (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785978 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:38:30 +0100 2785978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712165&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F19%2Fis-my-child-a-kleptomaniac%2F In an article about apologizing, I confessed to stealing a friend’s hair brush when I was six. That brush burned a hole in the back of my closet until the unbearable guilt ratted me out to my Mom. She marched me over to my friend’s house and stood at a supervisory distance while I did the death walk of the condemned up to the door. The brush was returned together with a shaky, sincere apology. I never felt so bad, before or since. Thus ended my career in petty crime. When I read Perri Klass’s article in the New York Times Health section, Stealing in Childhood Does Not a Criminal Make, it rang so true. Dr. Klass is a pediatrician/writer whose career I’ve followed since my graduate school, her medical school days back in the ’80s. Like me, she is now a seasoned professional wit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712165 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:00:57 +0100 2712165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405708&cid=t_97561_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fd-4iRGPmGUc%2F Working memory is our ability to store and manipulate information for a brief time. It is typically measured by dual-tasks, where the individual has to remember an item while simultaneously processing a sometimes unrelated piece of information. A widely used working memory task is the reading span task where the individual reads a sentence, verifies it, and then recalls the final word. Individual differences in working memory performance are closely related to a range of academic skills such as reading, spelling, comprehension, and mathematics. Crucially, there is emerging research that working memory predicts learning outcomes independently of IQ. One explanation for the importance of working memory in academic attainment is that because it appears to be relatively unaffected by environme... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405708 Mon, 11 May 2009 00:49:07 +0100 2405708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060687&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2Fantibullying_bill_pushed_in_minnesota_legislature.php Image via Wikipedia A Bill that I hope will become law in Minnesota and an example for the nation is moving through the Legislature. StarTribune.com "The bill would prohibit "harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence" based on a student's personal characteristics such as race, sexual orientation or religion. It would, in effect, "simply expand the categories of people that schools already cover with their anti-bullying policies," according to OutFront Minnesota, one of the organizations pushing for its adoption. Education Minnesota, the state's teachers union, is the most prominent of several other groups backing the bill." Bullying has been the scourge of childhood relationships inside and outside of schools. It has done tremendous damage to developing children at a highly se... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060687 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:22:35 +0100 4060687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060702&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2Fdalton_sherman_i_believe_in_me_do_you_believe_in_m.php National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals "There's probably easier ways to make a living, but I want to tell you, on behalf of all of the students in Dallas, we need you. We need you now more than ever." Dallas Morning News "At 10, Dalton Sherman is a speech-making pro. Since winning a big oratory competition in Dallas last January, he's performed at numerous churches and events all over Dallas. He even opened an event for famed poet Maya Angelou. "He has the 'it' factor," said Dawn Blair, Dalton's godmother. "Like Tiger has it, Obama has it. You can't put your finger on it." And since his Wednesday speech, which left many teachers cheering and others in tears, his family has been inundated by phone calls and e-mails. A talkative kid, Dalton bounces up and down on a couch in h... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060702 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:25:18 +0100 4060702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652391&cid=t_97561_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F345132884%2F Today Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed House Bill 5696, which requires insurance companies to cover physical, speech and occupational therapies for autism, if their policies cover these treatments for other conditions, and also House Bill 5590, which calls for a statewide plan to teach autistic children. In Virginia, parents are seeking to get House Bill 83—which would mandate insurance coverage for autism—passed, according to WTOP News. Said Gov. Rell in Norwalk Plus “As parents we take great joy in our children’s ‘firsts.’ Their first smile. Their first steps. Their first words…..We are also the first to sense a problem. This new law open doors to more treatment – and sooner.” Having written earlier today about Charlie’s being diagnosed 9 years... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652391 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:13:36 +0100 1652391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477887&cid=t_97561_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F05%2F29%2Fthe-importance-of-play%2F “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do“(The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain) Play is essential to a child’s social, emotional, and academic life. So why are schools shunning recesses and physical education for structured academics and testing? And why does it seem that parents are turning play from something fun and frivolous into something that must be productive and controlled? These are some of the questions that the latest issue of Greater Good magazine tries to answer. They have put together an interesting and thought provoking series of articles examining the past and present culture of play and why it seems to be vanishing. Can We Play? looks at the disappearing culture of play finding ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477887 Thu, 29 May 2008 10:24:11 +0100 1477887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1423760&cid=t_97561_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2F284802169%2F Researchers just released results from a study of 14,000 children over the course of six-and-a-half years (the abstract claims it’s the largest randomized trial ever conducted in human lactation!) The study attempted to determine whether any associated link between breastfeeding and IQ is due to breastfeeding alone, or the differences between mothers who choose to breastfeed and mothers who formula-feed. To take out the differences between mothers, the 14,000 mother-baby pairs were divided randomly into two different groups, one of which was given encouragement to breastfeed and one of which was not. The encouragement group was more likely to breastfeed and to do so exclusively. Children in the encouragement group scored 5% higher on IQ tests and did better academically. Researchers ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1423760 Tue, 06 May 2008 17:54:50 +0100 1423760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1416204&cid=t_97561_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F5%2F2%2Fa-hat-tip-to-pediatrician-dr-benjamin-spock.html Brian Klepper Here's one of today's entries in The Writers' Almanac, the wonderful daily newsletter sent out by Garrison Keillor on NPR. Parents of boomers like me were big fans of Dr. Spock, treating him with an almost cult-like reverence for his sensible wisdom about child care. He later parted ways with some of his more conservative followers, when he became an iconic protester against America's war in Viet Nam. Be sure to note the last line of the blurb below. This is the same message Jane Sarasohn-Kahn related recently in The Wisdom of Patients. We stand on the shoulders of giants. It's the birthday of Dr. Benjamin Spock, (books by this author) born in New Haven, Connecticut (1903). His Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946) was a best seller during the period after World War... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1416204 Fri, 02 May 2008 09:00:25 +0100 1416204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1327463&cid=t_97561_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F3%2F26%2Fwhy-are-americans-resistant-to-science.html By Dov Michaeli , MD, Ph.D This question often puzzled me. I can understand the need for a God, as an embodiment of people’s moral ideals. So the fact that our society, which views itself as based on moral principles, is fertile ground for the belief in an über-moral deity. The Brits, on the other hand, have a long history of scandalous, sometimes murderous, behaviors of their political leaders and royals. They are well-versed in their Shakespeare and, like him are cynical about assertions of moral superiority of authority figures. Is there any wonder why only a small minority of the British go to church? This could also be the reason why the most ferocious critics of religion are British. See, for instance Richard Dawkins “the God Delusion”, in which he argues that ... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1327463 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:36 +0100 1327463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060725&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2Fthe_stress_of_poverty_changes_the_brain.php This is not surprising since we already know chronic stress changes many body elements in mostly a negative way. This is the first time I've seen that relates the stress of poverty to brain changes. This needs to be a target for prevention policy. Blogs Scientific American Community "The authors recruited 100 middle-aged volunteers from a Pennsylvania community registry and acquired three important measures from each. First, participants provided information that qualified as an objective indicator of personal and community socioeconomic status (for example, educational attainment and household income). Second, they received the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status. In this scale, participants were presented with a 10 step "social ladder" and asked to place an "X" on the step the... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060725 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:17:52 +0100 4060725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=791439&cid=t_97561_86_f&fid=35599&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrlibrary.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fbaby-einstein.html Having previously worked in the world of children's librarianship, I am well acquainted with the popularity of the Baby Einstein videos and various imitators. For those not yet familiar with this make your 'baby the smartest baby they can be' phenomenon of the Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby videos, the names pretty much sum up their marketing plan. The formula is simple: buy the video + put baby in front of TV + turn on video = your very own baby genius.Turns out there might be a fly in this nerve and brain tonic. According to an article published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers from Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington found that the first and most important language teacher is you. The researchers found that 8-16 month year old infants who viewed these ty... SHR Medical Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=791439 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:47:00 +0100 791439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=650805&cid=t_97561_117_f&fid=34775&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fhealthy-children%2F2007%2F05%2Finfants-toddlers-and-tv-sky-is-falling.html The front page headline of the Boston Globe on 5/27/07 screamed: "Heavy TV viewing under 2 is found. Ignoring risks, parents cite 'educational' value." Article subtext: Don't these misguided, irresponsible parents know that TV viewing is toxic to their infant's and toddler's brain?The study of 1009 parents found that 40% of 3-month-olds and 90% of 24-month-olds were watching TV, DVDs, or videos. The average TV viewing time/day was 1 hour in 12 month olds and 1.5 hours in 24 month olds. This despite the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics to avoid any TV viewing until after 2 years of age!The researchers warn: "Such exposure to [TV] screens can have a negative impact on an infant's rapidly developing brain and put children at a higher risk for attention problems, diminished... Healthy Children blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=650805 Wed, 30 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 650805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470417&cid=t_97561_117_f&fid=34775&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fhealthy-children%2F2006%2F11%2Fpre-school-children-and-ritalin-part-2.html In my last blog I discussed an important new study that looked at the use of methylphenidate ("Ritalin", etc.) in preschool age children.The data were reassuring: although, compared to its use in older children, side effects occurred more often and it was effective in fewer kids, the majority of children appeared to benefit and only a minority (11%) stopped the medication due to significant side effects (which resolved when the medication was discontinued). Best of all, no really bad events occurred.********************But this study does not really answer the question "should we use stimulant medications in children this young?" - a topic some of you addressed in your comments and, as promised, the topic of today's blog.This is an important and legitimate question. Few trends have provoke... Healthy Children blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470417 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0100 470417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470419&cid=t_97561_117_f&fid=34775&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fhealthy-children%2F2006%2F11%2Fpre-school-children-and-ritalin-boon.html There is an ongoing, important, and quite passionate debate about using medications in young children to improve their behavior or mood.There are usually two aspects to the controversy:- Is it safe and effective to use them?- And even if it is, should we do so anyway?In this blog I'll discuss the first question, which this new study addresses. In my next blog, I'll discuss the "should" question.****************************************This new study is by far the largest and the best to examine the safety and side effects of using methylphenidate (trade names such as Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate) for the treatment of ADHD in preschool children, ages 3-5 years.The study183 children with a diagnosis of ADHD participated over the course of a year.This was the best kind of study: a prospective s... Healthy Children blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470419 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0100 470419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060792&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F10%2Fdepression_related_to_inaccura.php Thanks to PsychCentral.com, I found facinating article from the Los Angeles Times. A recent study has found that depression is related more to misperceptions of peer interactions, especially during puberty. Truth sometimes hurts. But for children closing in on adolescence, a firm grasp on the truth about one's standing with classmates and peers can be healthy, even when it does hurt a bit. A new study has found that children who can accurately assess how much — or little — their peers like them are less likely to develop symptoms of depression, including sadness and difficulties concentrating or sleeping. By comparison, children with unrealistically rosy or unfoundedly gloomy views of their standing appear more likely to be headed toward depression. Many psychologists have speculate... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060792 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 02:13:51 +0100 4060792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060793&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F10%2Fwhat_every_girl_should_know.php Isn't it sad that our most effective and pervasive education sources (TV) and other media is full of images that are not real, raise expectations for ourselves and others, and sets us up to feel inadequate. Those feelings help create in some girls a frenzied obsession with appearance that sometimes leads to eating disorders, some of which are deadly. And they make a few people rich. Thanks to Dr. Deb Serani for the link. (Source: Ψ Dare To Dream...) Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060793 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 04:13:24 +0100 4060793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060834&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F04%2Ftv_is_an_experiment_on_our_chi.php I caught a post on Bioethics.net referring to an article in New Scientist on the work of Dimitri Christakis and Frederick Zimmerman, from the University of Washington in Seattle. Christakis and Zimmerman wrote an editorial in the latest issue of the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. It contained this quote: We’re conducting a large uncontrolled experiment on our children and waiting to see what the results will be. I first became concerned about the effects of television during my training as a clinical social worker. I recognized the strong effect advertisements had on me, especially as a child. I was a TV addict as a child. I probably watched as much as six hours a day from preschool through high school. I remembered begging my parents for certain products I'd ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060834 Sat, 08 Apr 2006 01:11:50 +0100 4060834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060848&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F03%2Finterpreting_childrens_behavio.php Mental Notes had a great post a few days ago listing the kinds of indications to look for in understand if your child is suffering from a serious problem. Behavior can mean many things, often because of the context of situation. You may need help to figure out what needs the attention. I will take issue with one of his assertions. While it is true that a full assessment takes a lot of time and there is very little incentive from the doctor's perspective to do the full diagnostic and medicating as a trial is a widely used method of diagnostics, I'd advocate for the full evaluation before medicating. There are too many stories of "kids like zombies" floating around to say nothing about this. Bring your child to a mental health professional who will take a full 45 to 60 minute evaluation, ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060848 Wed, 22 Mar 2006 18:50:14 +0100 4060848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060883&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2005%2F05%2Fsmall_classrooms_means_more_gr.php If you can't think of a good reason to support school referendums, consider this: Enlightenment Bulletin Board - Years In Small Classes In El-Ed School Yields Graduation A new study involving a large sample of students followed for 13 years shows that four or more years in small classes in elementary school significantly increases the likelihood of graduating from high school, especially for students from low-income homes. Enlightenment Bulletin Board - ONE-THIRD OF THOSE WHO ENTER HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T GRADUATE "One-third of the nation's young people is a very considerable proportion," says Barton. "Almost 45 years ago, James Conant, former president of Harvard, said that the dropout problem was ‘social dynamite.' The explosion has occurred, and will continue to occur. This is seen in... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060883 Wed, 18 May 2005 03:05:14 +0100 4060883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060884&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2005%2F05%2Ftoxoplasmosis_linked_to_schizo.php Study Finds Maternal Exposure To Parasitic Infection May Increase Risk Of Schizophrenia In Offspring Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can develop from eating undercooked meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables, drinking contaminated water, or not washing one's hands after gardening or changing cat litter boxes. I can't think of a better reason for prospective mothers to guard their personal hygiene. (Source: Ψ Dare To Dream...) Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060884 Wed, 18 May 2005 02:05:03 +0100 4060884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060888&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2005%2F04%2Fmajor_change_in_child_developm.php Years of developmental theory by many child psychologists, most notably Jean Piaget, have held to the view that children develop the ability to abstract representational models of their world after age 4. Piaget posited that a child, through physical interaction with his or her environment, builds a set of concepts about reality and how it works. A child does not know that physical objects remain in existence even when out of sight, a concept called object permanance. Now researchers have conducted a proceedure that suggests they have that ability as early as fifteen months. Here is a lay article referring to the research. Until I see some more definitive information, I'll reserve judgement. Should this research stand up to the scrutiny of others, it would represent a major change and lea... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060888 Wed, 27 Apr 2005 04:25:48 +0100 4060888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060896&cid=t_97561_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2005%2F03%2Fteens_who_pledge_virginity_ris.php Teens who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are more likely to take chances with other kinds of sex that increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, a study of 12,000 adolescents suggests. [more] (Source: Ψ Dare To Dream...) Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060896 Sun, 20 Mar 2005 06:02:58 +0100 4060896