A high-speed train in 1960 zipped along at 100 mph; today the speeds are twice that. Locomotion has gotten faster with every generation, but we can&#39;t say the same about our kids. According to an Australian study that looked at 20 million children world-wide, it takes kids ages 9-17 a minute and a half longer to run a mile than it took their parents back when they were that age. And that&#39;s because kids are so much less active and more likely <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/childhood-obesity" target="_blank">to be overweight</a>.

So here are four smart ways to get kids back up to speed -- so they&#39;ll have a healthy body, a powerful brain and a happy outlook.

<ol>
	<li>Size down the dish. To keep your <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-eating-children-and-teens" target="_blank">child from overeating</a> (30% of kids are overweight or obese) cut the bowl or plate size in half. Kids will naturally -- you don&rsquo;t have to say a word -- eat half as much!</li>
	<li>Add protein to breakfast so kids (and adults) have energy all day. Kids 9-14 need about 34g protein daily; for breakfast aim for 10-15 grams or 1 cup cooked oatmeal (5.5g), &frac14; cup nonfat yogurt (3g), 1oz turkey bacon (5g).</li>
	<li>Limit screen time to 2 hours a day, max! -- and no TV or Internet in bedrooms.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Get kids playing, walking, moving, for a minimum of 60 minutes daily; and get out there and do it with them. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/fitness-exercise-children/how-can-help-child-more-active" target="_blank">Related: Try these tips for keeping kids active</a>.</li>
</ol>

If that doesn&#39;t work, threaten to wake them up every morning with the phrase, &quot;Why when I was your age...&quot; That&#39;ll get them moving.

Medically reviewed in May 2019.

4 Smart Ways to Keep Kids Healthy

Ask any kid, whether second-grader or swaggering senior, and you&#39;ll hear the same claim: Studying makes you hungry! Memorizing math formulas? Chips and soda are part of the equation. Digging into Moby-Dick? Harpoon a bag of M&amp;M&#39;s.

Actually, the idea&#39;s right on&mdash;eating can help the brain focus, if you know which foods to choose. But gee&mdash;surprise&mdash;candy and chips aren&#39;t among them.

What will help kids who are cracking the books? It depends on what kind of help they need, but it comes down to one of two Cs:

<ul>
	<li>Carbs&mdash;healthy ones&mdash;for kids who tend to get so freaked about tests or tough teachers that they lose all focus. </li>
	<li>Comfort foods for studiers who start out okay but gradually get tense, can&#39;t sleep, wake up exhausted, and then don&#39;t do well.</li>
</ul>

Of the two, only one needs a little explaining: carbs. The brain needs glucose (blood sugar) to stay sharp and alert. In fact, the brain is the only organ in the body that uses only glucose for energy. Glucose comes from carbohydrates. But the brain (like the body) does much better with a steady flow of energy, not the quick rush it gets from eating rapidly absorbed carbs like candy and chips. So slowly absorbed carbs&mdash;which, gee, more surprises, include whole grains, fruit, and veggies&mdash;produce longer lasting mental energy.

What&#39;s more, in addition to supplying the brain with energy, healthy carbs also have a steadying effect, explains Mindy Hermann, RD. They help boost serotonin, a calming brain chemical. And that combo&mdash;calm energy&mdash;is an ideal mix for many study-stressed kids, especially an hour or two before an exam or chem lab. So what to feed the homework harassed?

For Studiers Who Start Out Strong but End Up Stressed and Sleepless: 
A cup of something warm and soothing. Whether it&#39;s a light soup, warm milk, chamomile tea, or diet hot cocoa (to avoid the sugar hit) is personal preference&mdash;all can help kids who&#39;ve gotten tightly wound up to settle down again, says Hermann. Offer these about an hour before bedtime.

For Kids Who Can Freak Out Over Hard Teachers or Pop Quizzes: 
Apple slices spread with peanut butter. The carb-rich fruit will give serotonin a boost, which helps calm raggedy nerves, so it&#39;s easier to focus. The peanut butter is filled with healthy fats. 

Cheerios or other oat &quot;Os&quot; cereal. A big bowl of these to munch and crunch can be a great study snack. This whole-grain kid favorite delivers a lot of nutrients as well as slowly absorbed, subtly calming carbs. 

Grapes. Like apples, these sweet carbs get serotonin going while their high fiber content slows down sugar absorption&mdash;plus, fiber itself seems to have stress-soothing abilities. Some kids prefer their grapes frozen for melt-in-the-mouth fun. 

Whole-wheat pretzels. They have the same crunch as regular pretzels but loads more fiber and often a lot less thirst-making salt, so studiers aren&#39;t constantly breaking their train of thought to get yet another drink.

More than good grades are on the table here, by the way. Kids who get into the habit of eating plenty of fruit and vegetables&mdash;aka healthy carbs&mdash;are likely to keep it up into adulthood. If they do, their RealAge could be 36 when they&#39;re actually turning 40. Smart.

Packing your kid&#39;s lunch box? <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/parenting/article/keep-out-five-foods-to-ban-from-your-kids-lunch-box">Find out what foods to skip and what to stock up on</a>.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

8 Study Snacks That Make Kids Smarter

Wow! That&rsquo;s Dora the Explorer on a box of frozen treats. And you know what Dora&rsquo;s discovered inside that box? High fructose corn syrup, liquid sugar and a bunch of great dyes. Good sleuthing Dora!

But wait! Her image is there to attract, not educate, young consumers -- and it works, making bad-for-you food youngsters&rsquo; top picks. That&rsquo;s why the fast food industry spends more than $5 million every day marketing unhealthy foods to children. And the total spent annually by the food and beverage industry targeting kids? Around $2 billion! &nbsp;

If you think you and your children are able to resist kids-you-gotta-eat-this-to-be-happy-and-cool marketing, think again. Researchers say even five years after kids are exposed to unhealthy food ads, they select fewer fruits, vegetables and whole grains and increase their consumption of fast and fried foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. And the damage doesn&rsquo;t stop there: Intergenerational advertising targets not only today&rsquo;s kids but their kids as well by establishing lifelong brand preferences. No wonder the CDC predicts 1 of 3 U.S. adults will have <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/type-2-diabetes">diabetes</a> by 2050 -- and those adults are your kids and grandkids!

What can you do about the onslaught? Talk to you children. Explain that just because Dora&rsquo;s picture is on a box doesn&rsquo;t mean the food in the box is good for them. Then offer great-tasting alternatives. Buy fruit that kids can blend and freeze into tasty pops. And educate them about how important it is to feed your body the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-eating-children-and-teens/nutrition-important-child">healthy fuel</a> it needs to stay strong, smart and happy.

Medically reviewed in September 2019.

Advertising Helps Make Kids Overweight

In 1877, 17-year-old Frank Eaton, aka Pistol Pete, was commissioned as a U.S. Marshall. He lived by the gun -- but died from natural causes after a long, full life at age 97. Unfortunately, many stories about youngsters and guns don&rsquo;t have such happy endings. In 2013 researchers at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that in the U.S. around 7,500 kids a year (more than 20 every day) were hospitalized for gunshot wounds. About 500 die in the hospital.

And there are other ways guns harm kids. For example, lead-filled dust lingers in the air at many indoor firing ranges, contaminating range workers and visitors and making them sick. The lead dust also travels home on their skin and clothes where their children are put at risk for lead poisoning.

We know it&rsquo;s your right to have a gun, but you and your children also have the right to be <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/parenting/home-gun-safety-children" target="_blank">safe from gun-inflicted dangers</a>. So, keep ammo and guns in separate locked locations out of children&rsquo;s reach, warn kids about the danger of playing with any firearm, and ask your gun range for proof of top-notch sanitation and air filtering. Now we&rsquo;re done shooting our mouths off!

Another Shot at Safety

Hey, Mom and Dad, the axiom, &ldquo;Do as I say, not as I do,&rdquo; turns out to be a pretty inadequate way to teach teen drivers how to be safe behind the wheel. A study by a national insurance company and Students Against Destructive Decisions reveals many of you tell your child not to <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/parenting-teens/what-dangers-texting-while-driving-teens">drive and text</a> or talk on the phone, but you do it (&ldquo;What should I pick up for dinner?&rdquo;) and you insist your teen answer the phone whenever you call -- no exceptions. The result of these mixed messages? Your inexperienced teen driver ends up using the cell phone while negotiating through traffic.

A cell phone is involved in 21% of teen crashes (11% for adults) and distracted driving causes 11% of fatal teen accidents. Yet more than 85% of licensed high school students admit to using a cell phone while driving. So before <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/parents-driving-distracted">your bad example</a> and phone-answering rules steer your kid into trouble, here are a few tips on how to improve driving safety.

<ul>
	<li>When your teen does talk to you, ask immediately if he or she is driving. Yes? Ask for a call back when the car is stationary. Then hang up.</li>
	<li>Make it a whole-family rule not to text or talk on the phone while driving, because on a cell phone actions speak louder than words.</li>
	<li>Devices and apps are available for you to see if your teen is following rules about phone use (and speeding). These may qualify you for a car insurance discount.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Medically reviewed in May 2019.

Are Teens Driven to Distraction Behind the Wheel?

Nearly 5 million American children&mdash;some 15 percent of all kids aged 10 to 17&mdash;were obese in 2017-2018 according to an October 2019 report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). These findings suggest the childhood obesity epidemic isn&rsquo;t really improving. In 2016, the national obesity rate among this age group was 16 percent&mdash;a statistically insignificant change.

Even young children are affected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 13.7 million children and young adults aged 2 to 19 were obese in 2015-2016, increasing their risk for a slew of chronic health issues down the road.

Conditions, including high cholesterol, asthma, a weaker immune system, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and even complications after surgery can develop if the body is carrying extra weight. There are emotional health effects associated with childhood obesity as well. Many overweight or obese children, for example, are often <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/words-weapons-bullycide-how-concerned">bullied</a> or teased and may experience low self-esteem or depression. &nbsp;

Taking some steps early on to help your child shed excess weight could not only protect their long-term health but also improve their quality of life, according to Uwe Blecker, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/group/tulane-medical-center">Tulane University Medical Center</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Know the warning signs 
It&#39;s &quot;baby fat,&quot; or &quot;just a stage,&quot; some parents will say. But ignoring your child&#39;s weight problem won&#39;t help it go away. Make an appointment with your pediatrician if you notice these signs:

<ul>
	<li>Snoring at night, or trouble sleeping</li>
	<li>Difficulty buttoning pants</li>
	<li>Shortness of breath</li>
	<li>Fatigue</li>
	<li>Trouble exercising or walking up stairs</li>
</ul>

Your pediatrician will help you understand if your child is an unhealthy weight for his or her age and height and the severity of the problem. &ldquo;We look at their age on the&nbsp;BMI chart,&quot; explains Dr. Blecker. BMI, or body mass index, is a measure of body fat for adults based on height and weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that this ratio can also be used for children older than age 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;A child is overweight when his or her BMI is above the 85th percentile, and obese if their BMI is at or above the 95th percentile,&rdquo; Blecker explains.

Develop a weight-loss plan 
Helping your child lose weight should begin and end with your pediatrician, says Blecker. He points out children&rsquo;s age and how much growing they still need to do should be taken into consideration.

&ldquo;We look at three age categories: 2 to 5 years, 6 to 11 years and 12 to 18 years. Children ages 2 to 5 have a very significant amount of growth in front of them,&rdquo; Blecker says. And because they have a lot of growing to do, being overweight may not be a permanent problem. &ldquo;When we have an obese child in that age group, we don&#39;t work on <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/live-to-one-hundred/slideshow/effortless-ways-to-lose-weight">losing weight</a> necessarily, we just try to decrease or stop the weight gain.&rdquo;

Once children hit age 12 or is going through puberty, working on weight loss becomes a larger issue. They need to make changes, Blecker says. &quot;The big things are avoiding fried food and sugary drinks and adding in more fruits and vegetables.&quot;

The proper <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/types-exercise/article/health-experts-urge-move-more-sit-less">exercise plan</a> will also depend on your child&rsquo;s age and weight. &ldquo;We really can&rsquo;t ask kids who are severely overweight to do significant physical activity because they weigh too much,&rdquo; says Blecker. He recommends a gradual approach, starting with walking. As children lose weight and become more fit, their level of physical activity may increase.

Be a role model 
Once you&#39;ve identified that your child has a weight problem, setting a positive example with diet and exercise is key. &quot;Obesity interventions do not work if the parents don&#39;t participate,&quot; Blecker emphasizes. He notes that he&#39;s seen teenage patients who want to lose weight, but their parents continue to buy and serve them chips and soda. &quot;That is not going to work,&quot; he warns.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/heart-health/article/sipping-this-drink-increase-death">Sugary beverages</a>, in particular, are a dietary pitfall that should not be overlooked, especially when it comes to kids. Sweet drinks remain a staple in many children&rsquo;s diets. In fact, in the United States alone, beverages with added sugar or artificial sweeteners made up 62 percent of children&rsquo;s drink sales in 2018, according to an October 2019 report from the University of Connecticut&rsquo;s Rudd Center for Food Policy &amp; Obesity. Meanwhile, only slightly healthier alternatives, such as 100 percent fruit juice and juice diluted with water, accounted for 38 percent of kids&rsquo; beverages. Researchers gathered this data by assessing the top-selling brands of children&rsquo;s drinks, which included fruit drinks, flavored waters, drink mixes,100 percent fruit juice, juice-water blends and sparkling water.

It&rsquo;s important to avoid the sugary drinks that pack on pounds, Blecker advises. &ldquo;If children aren&rsquo;t exposed to sugary drinks, they typically don&rsquo;t want them,&quot; he adds. It may be unrealistic to assume that your child or teenager won&rsquo;t try a soda or a sugar-laden latte once in a while when they&rsquo;re out with friends, at a birthday party or another event, he adds. Just be sure they aren&#39;t in the habit of drinking them at home. Instead, try offering water with real fruit slices or unsweetened soda water, coconut water or teas.

Maintaining a healthy weight can become a family goal, inspiring some group activities. When you are together, try cooking a wholesome meal as a family, or make a habit of walking around the neighborhood every evening. You&rsquo;ll spend more time with one another, and work together to shed extra pounds and improve your health and wellbeing.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

Childhood Obesity Is a Major Problem—Is Your Child at Risk?

Baby boxes, a Finnish tradition that started in the 1930s, are now being used by parents in the United States. But what exactly is a baby box? Depending on the manufacturer, the adorable boxes come packed with clothes, sheets, breastfeeding supplies, wipes and toys, and the box itself doubles as a safe sleep sanctuary for newborns (complete with a small mattress at the bottom). In Finland, baby boxes are given to parents, by the government, at no cost to them, and may have helped the country achieve one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world.

Here in the United States, New Jersey was the first state to jump on the baby box bandwagon when they initiated a partnership with <a href="https://www.babyboxco.com/" target="_blank">The Baby Box Co.</a> Their sleep safety program promotes safe sleep education by distributing baby boxes for new parents. And now, this free baby box distribution program has spread to Alabama and Ohio. All parents have to do is watch a series of online videos that include basic information about <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-baby/article/what-you-need-know-sids">sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)</a>, otherwise known as &ldquo;cot death,&rdquo; safe sleeping tips and a short quiz. Once parents have completed the quiz and received their certificate, the baby boxes are mailed to their home address or can be picked up at the nearest distribution center. Baby boxes are also available for purchase online, for new parents in any state.

The biggest draw (and health benefit) of baby boxes is thought to be the reduction in SIDS. The exact cause of SIDS is not always known, but some of the potential hazards can arise while a baby is sleeping&mdash;suffocation, entrapment, or strangulation from things like clothing and loose sheets and blankets. Maternal smoking during pregnancy, exposure to smoke as an infant and a room that&rsquo;s too hot may also increase a baby&rsquo;s risk of SIDS. Baby boxes help infants stay still, rather than getting tangled or trapped in sheets and blankets.

While baby boxes are meant to bring awareness to safe sleeping techniques, research is needed to confirm if they actually do reduce infant deaths related to SIDS. Finland&rsquo;s reduction in infant mortality rates could be related to better prenatal care and education&mdash;not just to the baby boxes themselves. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says there is not enough evidence yet to prove there are benefits or dangers of baby boxes.

Whether your child is sleeping in a baby box or not, here are some <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-baby/article/how-reduce-baby-risk-sids">must-know safe sleeping techniques</a> from the AAP:

<ul>
	<li>Always place your baby on their back on a secure sleep surface.</li>
	<li>Avoid soft bedding products like crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and toys. A bare crib is best.</li>
	<li>Avoid sharing a bed with your child.</li>
	<li>Your baby should sleep in your bedroom until they are at least six months, but preferably until they are one.</li>
	<li>Babies should never be exposed to smoke, alcohol or drugs.</li>
</ul>

Before changing your infant&rsquo;s sleeping environment, it&rsquo;s always best to discuss options with your pediatrician.

Image credit: <a href="https://www.babyboxco.com/" target="_blank">The Baby Box Co.</a>

Medically reviewed in November 2018.

Babies Are Sleeping in Baby Boxes—Here’s Why

A few things my toddler put in her mouth this week:

<ul>
	<li>The dog&rsquo;s soccer ball</li>
	<li>Her foot</li>
	<li>A cracker that fell on the eating area floor (I tried to grab it; she deviously smiled and ate it.)</li>
	<li>The car. Yes, the car. While I held her on my knee to fish out my keys, she licked the car. I did not learn in medical school that I needed to watch for this.</li>
</ul>

Germs are everywhere, and at last check, wrapping a bubble around your child was frowned upon. In fact, children rely on exposure to some germs for immune system development. On the other hand, there are bugs like the flu, MRSA and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/bacterial-infections/what-is-clostridium-difficile">C. difficile</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;you want to avoid. So, when can you &ldquo;5 second rule&rdquo; it, and what calls for a total-body bath?

The Good -&nbsp;While I don&rsquo;t recommend seeking out exposures simply to reduce allergies, you needn&rsquo;t run for the sterilizer.

<ul>
	<li>Fido: Several studies have found that having a dog in the first years of life is associated with a reduced risk of asthma, wheezing and allergies.</li>
	<li>Dirt: The bio-diversity children encounter growing up in rural areas also seems to be linked to fewer allergies and asthma. While most of us don&rsquo;t live on a farm, our children can have similar benefits just by letting them play in the park or backyard -- that&#39;s good dirt.</li>
</ul>

The Bad -&nbsp;When it comes to finding dirty places, my daughter is inventive -- and fast. Touching these areas calls for a good wash of the hands, face and any pacifiers/toys.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>The sink/kitchen counter: Sinks tend to harbor bacteria, since we do everything from wash raw chicken to leave old dishes there. That can include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/salmonella-food-poisoning/what-is-salmonella-food-poisoning">Salmonella</a> or <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/e-coli-food-poisoning/e-coli-infections-prevention">E. coli</a>, which cause food poisoning if ingested and can be especially problematic in younger children.</li>
	<li>The floor: It&rsquo;s not so much how long, but which floor. The floor of your baby&rsquo;s bedroom or clean living room? Fine. (honestly, they put toys that touch that floor in their mouths anyway). The mudroom or mall? Not so much.</li>
	<li>Money: My daughter always tries to grab my wallet when I look away (probably payback for borrowing my mom&#39;s credit cards as a teen). Cash has been found to have over 3,000 types of bacteria that cause everything from acne to food poisoning and skin infections. Most bills don&rsquo;t have enough germs to make you sick, but better to keep it away.</li>
</ul>

The Ugly -&nbsp;I try to avoid taking my child to these places, but sometimes you don&#39;t have a choice. So, try to minimize contact with surfaces (Yes, I know. That is impossible.), wash hands immediately and if anything is dropped,&nbsp;assume it&rsquo;s dirty enough to potentially make your child sick.

<ul>
	<li>Public areas: Any place that&rsquo;s touched by many people and cleaned infrequently can spread colds, the flu and other infections. Think public bathroom sink handles, public transit handles and even the restaurant table ketchup bottle (ever notice how sticky those are?).</li>
	<li>Locker rooms: <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mrsa-staph-skin-infection/how-protect-my-child-mrsa">MRSA</a>, a drug-resistant form of the bacteria Staph that causes skin infections, is extremely common in locker rooms and gyms. If you take baby, keep her shoes on and if you need to set her down, do so on surfaces covered with clean towels.</li>
	<li>Hospitals: Hospitals can harbor some of the worst infections. Of course, I&rsquo;m not saying to avoid the hospital, but if you&rsquo;re headed there for a visit that doesn&rsquo;t involve your child, try not to bring her along. And if a pacifier falls on the ER floor? This ER doctor strongly recommends that you toss it and buy a new one (better yet, be prepared with an extra).</li>
</ul>

Busy Woman's Guide: Germs You Don't Need to Worry About  

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it&rsquo;s especially important for kids age three to six who use fluoride toothpastes to be careful when brushing their teeth. Seems many of the youngsters put globs of the cleanser on their brush, and that delivers excess fluoride that can harm and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/slideshow/surprising-ways-you-discolor-your-teeth">discolor teeth</a> (dental fluorosis).

The CDC surveyed almost 1,700 children and found 38 percent of them used more than the recommended amount. That&rsquo;s a pea-size dollop of toothpaste for kids three to six. Kids younger than age three should use only as much as the size of a grain of rice! And the CDC says no fluoride toothpaste for kids two or younger unless directed by your dentist.

The best advice:

<ul>
	<li>For kids up to age two: Wipe gums with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed.</li>
	<li>As teeth come in: Start brushing twice a day with a soft, small‑bristled toothbrush and plain water.</li>
	<li>Supervise your kids up to age six while they apply the toothpaste to their brush and during brushing. Kids often swallow the toothpaste, which can cause fluoride overdosing.</li>
</ul>

Medically reviewed in September 2019.

Can Children Use Fluoride Toothpaste?

Not far from Dr. Mike&rsquo;s Cleveland Clinic&rsquo;s Wellness Center at the BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings) in Lyndhurst, OH, insurance salesman Andy Haas can be found playing the golf video game Golden T, usually for four hours at a stretch. In Las Vegas, he recently won $10,000 and the Golden T world championship. And that was after pocketing about $40,000 in regular winnings last year. &ldquo;I think I cleared $100,000 gross twice, back when it was full time,&rdquo; said the 34-year-old.

Andy isn&rsquo;t the only one getting hooked on video games: In 2016 the average American 13 or older spent 6.5 hours a week playing and younger kids are also gaming a lot. However, averaging an hour a day &hellip; might not be so bad.

A Spanish study published in the Annals of Neurology reveals that <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/fitness-exercise/article/can-video-games-get-you-fit">kids who play</a> a limited amount of video games each week&ndash;not more than two hours and not less than one&ndash;developed better motor skills, improved psychomotor response to visual stimulation, and had higher test scores in school! Looking at 2,442 children ages 7 to 11, the researchers concluded that gaming for more than two hours weekly can be detrimental, nurturing antisocial behavior and generally bad conduct, not to mention inactivity and obesity.

So, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/parenting/is-video-games-unhealthy-kids">don&rsquo;t ban video games</a>, just regulate time spent. Then offer your kids recreational alternatives that get &lsquo;em playing sports, interacting with their 3-D friends and the real world. Bonus tip: Brain training <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/video/healthy-aging/anti-aging/how-video-games-keep-you-young">video games can increase brain-processing</a> speed and decrease dementia in those over age 70.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

Can Video Gaming Be Good?

On an episode of The Office, Todd Packer, the company&rsquo;s traveling salesman, tells a joke: &ldquo;So a guy goes home, tells his wife, &lsquo;Honey, pack your bags. I just won the lottery!&rsquo; She goes, &lsquo;Oh my God! That&rsquo;s incredible! Where are we going?&rsquo; His response: &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know where you&rsquo;re going. Just be outta here by five!&#39;&rdquo; All the guys in the office laugh, while a female colleague, Phyllis, looks on incredulously.

Unfortunately, sexism crops up in the real world too, from universities to newsrooms to workplaces. We don&rsquo;t know completely what makes one person more sexist than another, but a study in Frontiers in Psychology points to one possible way it&rsquo;s nurtured in kids&mdash;video games.

Researchers surveyed 13,000 young people ages 11 to 19, asking how often they played video games and how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the statement, &ldquo;A woman is made mainly for making and raising children.&rdquo; Turns out, the more a child played video games the more likely he&mdash;or she&mdash;was to have sexist attitudes. And an Ohio State study found the more a young man identifies with violent video game characters the less empathetic he is toward female victims of violence.

So, how can you help your video-game-obsessed child avoid developing such attitudes? First, filter out the games where females are victims or over-sexualized. Then make video-game playing an occasional treat rather than a regular after-school activity. You&rsquo;ll increase the chances your young men will respect women and your young women will respect themselves.

Medically reviewed in February 2020.

Video Games May Make Teens More Sexist

Burns, car crashes, concussions and other injuries contribute most to child and teen deaths rates.

These Injuries Send 9.2 Million Kids to the Hospital Each Year

In 1950&rsquo;s TV shows such as Lassie and The Andy Griffith Show, the young boys Timmy (Jon Provost) and Opie (Ron Howard) were always running around outside saving people or going fishing. Having fun or encountering danger (Timmy&rsquo;s in the well!), they were outside a lot. Today, for city and suburban kids to spend time outside, things have to be planned and supervised. And hours and hours are spent indoors <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/how-screen-time-too-much-kids">on screens</a> for school, play and socializing. That puts a strain on kids.

According to a recent study from the University of Hong Kong, 16 percent of preschoolers in Hong Kong and up to 22 percent in China show signs of mental health problems. And the numbers are almost identical here. According to the CDC, one in five (that&rsquo;s 20 percent) of American children ages 3 through 17&mdash;about 15 million&mdash;have a diagnosable mental, emotional or <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/challenges-for-the-family-with-an-adhd-teen">behavioral disorder</a> in any given year. What can be done?

Members of the World Health Organization met in Parma, Italy, in 2010 and came up with the Parma Declaration to help improve children&rsquo;s physical and mental health. One solution: To decrease the current epidemic of nature-deficit and child-nature-disconnectedness, because research has clearly shown that being connected to nature&mdash;or not&mdash;affects a child psychological functioning and well-being.

So, every day, help your child spend time in a park, green space or recreation area. You&rsquo;ll see improvement in mood, attention, sleep quality and schoolwork! And chances are you&rsquo;ll have fun too! You can track your physical activity in the outdoors with the Sharecare app for <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sharecare/id964313779?mt=8" target="_blank">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharecare.realgreen&amp;hl=en_US" target="_blank">Android</a>.

Medically reviewed in January 2020.

Why Kids Should Experience Nature

When school systems closed because of over-hyped Ebola fears, we worried the &ldquo;cry wolf effect&rdquo; might interfere with real reasons to keep kids home from school. Sometimes it&rsquo;s smart to keep them home to avoid infecting schoolmates and teachers with highly contagious -- but not life-threatening -- diseases that make the rounds again and again. Keep your kid home, if they have:

<ul>
	<li>Pinkeye:&nbsp;Also called <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/bacterial-eye-infections/what-is-conjunctivitis" target="_blank">conjunctivitis</a>, this super-contagious eye infection causes a sticky discharge and red swollen eye(s). 
	Treatment: If it&rsquo;s bacterial, use antibiotic eye drops. Keep them home until redness and irritation is gone. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Stomach problems:&nbsp;If your child is vomiting, has diarrhea and/or a fever, choose bed rest.&nbsp; 
	Treatment: Fluids, children&rsquo;s acetaminophen and possibly a probiotic. If symptoms continue for 24 hours, see your doctor. Keep them home for 24 hours after symptoms disappear.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Coughing fits:&nbsp;A steady or hacking cough -- that&rsquo;s stay-at-home territory. 
	Treatment: Steamy baths, warm liquids and see your doc. No cough syrups for kids younger than 4 and no adult cough medicine for children older than 4. Send them back when the doc says it&rsquo;s okay. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A sore throat:&nbsp;Seventy percent of the time it&rsquo;s viral, not bacterial strep, so it&rsquo;s all about soothing and waiting. 
	Treatment: If you suspect strep -- it may cause headache, stomachache, fever, rash on the throat -- get a swab test at your local drug store, then see your doc for confirmation, antibiotics and a probiotic. Kids can go back to school after 24 hours if they feel up to it.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Medically reviewed in January 2020.

When It's Smart to Skip School

Teenage angst is big at the box office: Millions have been made off a sulky James Dean in East of Eden, a grumpy Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club and the intriguing Ellar Coltraine in Boyhood. But while you may pay to see adolescents acting out on the big screen, back home you&rsquo;re probably hoping for children with fewer emotional upsets. Well, one way to help your kids feel good about themselves and their life is to encourage them to participate in school sports teams. Joining a team helps protect teens from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/stress-reduction">stress</a> and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/depression">depression</a>, which afflict an estimated 23-40% of kids ages 12-17.

As a team member, kids form strong friendships and they learn to think not just about their own needs, but the needs of their teammates. Equally important, they&rsquo;re physically active. Regular exercise dispels stress, improves self-image and protects kids (and adults) from chronic illnesses, like <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/type-2-diabetes">type 2 diabetes</a>, that are linked to depression.

Fortunately, a record number of children are benefiting: In 2013, 3.2 million girls and 4.5 million boys were participating in school sports -- including cheerleading, swimming and track and field. &nbsp;

But what if your teenager won&rsquo;t go out for school sports? Suggest other team activities: chess club, science club or debate team, for example. Your child will still benefit from being on a team. Just make sure he or she also makes a commitment to get physically active. Bowling? Archery? Jogging? There&rsquo;s something for everyone! That way your child will stay happy and healthy.&nbsp;

Medically reviewed in February 2020.

Teens, Sports and Happiness

Whooping cough, a very contagious respiratory disease that causes extreme coughing fits, is on the rise among adolescents who received a newer vaccine formula released in the 1990s. Turns out, the newer vaccines aren&rsquo;t as effective over the long run as the original versions.

In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that 69% of 11 and 12-year-olds were protected in the first year after receiving the Tdap vaccination, but after four years, just 9% were protected.

After the release of the original &ldquo;whole-cell&rdquo; vaccine back in the 1940s, rates of whooping cough, also called pertussis, dropped sharply. Before the shot was available, it was common for more than 200,000 cases to be reported in a year. By the 70s and 80s, that number was down to just a couple thousand.

But that vaccine caused temporary, but scary side effects, such as constant crying and fussiness, fevers, seizures and muscle weakness in babies. So researchers created the &ldquo;acellular&rdquo; vaccines to avoid those problems. The pertussis vaccines available today (called DtaP and Tdap) are all of this newer type. However, whooping cough rates have been steadily rising ever since, even though most kids are getting vaccinated.

The study also found that 10- to 16-year-olds had the highest rates of whooping cough during outbreaks in California in 2010 and 2014. The reason? That generation didn&rsquo;t receive any doses of the old vaccine &ndash; only the new.

Experts worry that this will lead to more&mdash;and bigger&mdash;whooping cough outbreaks in the future.

So the new vaccines don&rsquo;t work well. What should I do? 
&ldquo;Even though the vaccine&rsquo;s protection wanes over time, I would highly recommend that patients stay up to date with the recommendations,&rdquo; says infectious diseases pediatrician Zachary Hoy, MD, of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/group/the-childrens-hospital-at-tristar-centennial" style="line-height: 1.6em;">The Children&#39;s Hospital at TriStar Centennial</a> in Nashville.&nbsp;

The whooping cough vaccine, though not perfect, is still the best way to prevent infection. A 2013 study indicated that unvaccinated kids were 28 times more likely to develop whooping cough than children who received all their pertussis vaccinations.

&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re concerned about whether your child should receive the vaccine, you should talk to your doctor,&rdquo; says Dr. Hoy.

While anyone can get whooping cough, it is especially dangerous to babies, whose immune systems aren&rsquo;t able to fight the infection as well. The more people who get vaccinated, though, the less likely whooping cough will spread.

Vaccine recommendations 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/vaccines-immunology/what-is-the-dtap-vaccine" style="line-height: 1.6em;">DTaP</a> should be given to babies at two, four and six months, and then again at 15-18 months, and 4-6 years, to make it a total of five doses. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/vaccines-immunology/who-should-get-tdap-vaccine" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Tdap</a> should be given to children and adults 11 years and older, every 10 years.

And pregnant women should get the vaccine during every pregnancy, sometime between 27 and 36 weeks gestation. This protects both the mom and baby.

Future of the vaccine 
Researchers are on the hunt for a vaccine that doesn&rsquo;t wane in immunity. According to Hoy, they are looking for ways to make vaccines last longer and blood tests that could help show how well a person is protected from pertussis.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/whooping-cough-breathing/article/what-you-need-know-whooping-cough">Learn more about whooping cough. </a>

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

Whooping Cough Vaccine Effectiveness Wears Off Quickly

These six strategies can help your child get a handle on bedwetting.

6 Ways to Stop Bedwetting

It&rsquo;s that time again: a brand-new school year. For many elementary school kids, that means different teachers, unfamiliar classmates, mounds of fresh homework&mdash;and lots of anxiety.

Andrew Gunter, MD, a pediatrician at <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/group/memorial-health">Memorial Health</a> in Savannah, Georgia, compares the first day to starting a new job. &ldquo;It can be stressful&mdash;you don&rsquo;t know what to expect or who your boss is going to be,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Those are natural fears.&rdquo;

The unknown isn&rsquo;t the only drawback, either. After a long, lazy summer, kids can be thrown off their routines, which may exacerbate their apprehension, and getting back on track can be tough if you&rsquo;re not prepared.

So, what can parents and guardians do to ease those back-to-school jitters? How can you make reacclimating as painless as possible? And when is a grade-schooler&rsquo;s stress something more serious? Here what you need to know.

Anticipate and address kids&rsquo; fears 
Whether they&rsquo;re on edge about making friends, encountering bullies or getting good grades, the first step to helping a stressed-out student is to get them talking. &ldquo;A conversation is always a good start,&rdquo; says Dr. Gunter. &ldquo;Ask your kid, &lsquo;Are you worried about anything?&rsquo;&rdquo;

Then, listen to their concerns and validate their feelings. Assure them that their anxiety is completely normal, and that they&rsquo;re not alone.

&ldquo;Let them that know you had those same fears,&rdquo; advises Gunter. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very comforting when you have someone who sits with you and says, &lsquo;I went through the same thing.&rsquo;&rdquo; Remind your child, too, that as time goes on, these angst-inducing experiences will become part of a familiar routine.

The good news: school districts are typically open over the summer to address student needs. So, if your child is attending a new school, visit it together before the year begins to get acquainted with classrooms, playgrounds and teachers. Make it a priority to attend orientation sessions and ask if the school has a &ldquo;buddy&rdquo; program to help younger kids find their feet. Game plan your routes to school, whether your child is walking, biking or riding the bus.

Along with assuaging their fears, it also helps to stoke kids&rsquo; enthusiasm for the coming year. &ldquo;Make it fun to go back,&rdquo; says Gunter. Talk up the positives, like learning about subjects they love and seeing old buddies. Involve them in shopping for clothes or school supplies, letting them choose pencils, notebooks and a backpack for themselves.

You might also tease the opportunity to try different afterschool activities. From the school band to a community soccer league, getting involved in extracurriculars can help your child make new friends, develop their skills &ldquo;and see what piques their interest,&rdquo; says Gunter.

Create healthy routines 
To ease your child&rsquo;s mind during those first days, establish a reliable routine that prioritizes healthy, stress-reducing habits. This can include a range of practices, from the simple&mdash;like laying out clothes the night before school&mdash;to bigger changes, such as designating times for certain activities, including:

Sleep: The National Sleep Foundation recommends 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night for children ages 6 to 13. Not getting enough is linked to a higher risk of academic problems and behavioral issues. As the summer wanes, Gunter advises moving bedtime up in increments of about 15 minutes per night, starting at least a week before school begins. Begin setting the morning alarm a little earlier each day, as well. This way, he says, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s not a last-minute thing, which of course they&rsquo;ll fight back on.&rdquo;

Creating a consistent evening schedule may also smooth the way to new bedtimes. Nighttime <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/how-screen-time-too-much-kids">use of electronic devices</a> can lead to poor sleep, so turn off all gadgets&mdash;including TVs, smartphones, tablets and video games&mdash;at least 60 minutes before kids hit the sack. During quiet time, have them brush their teeth, shower and read to help them settle down, too.

Homework: For many young students, homework is a significant source of post-summer stress. Working around afterschool activities as best you can, block off a time for your child to complete their tasks each day&mdash;preferably in a quiet, uncluttered place, like the kitchen table or a home office desk. Unless their homework requires a computer, make sure screens are turned off to reduce distraction.

If you&rsquo;re present, never do your child&rsquo;s homework for them. Instead, provide support, motivation, and of course, snacks. If your child has difficulty with organization, a planner or dry-erase board can help them&mdash;and you&mdash;keep track of test dates, assignments and extracurriculars.

Eating right: Help kids focus and gear up for each day with a <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/eating-habits-nutrition/slideshow/energy-boosting-breakfasts-400-calories">wholesome breakfast</a>. Choose foods low in added sugars with protein, fiber and healthy fats for lasting energy: scrambled eggs, yogurt, fruit or whole-grain toast with peanut butter are easy options.

For lunch, make it a habit to pack healthy meals at night, or have kids buy at school; many districts allow you to maintain an account online. Millions of families are eligible for a nutritious, low- or no-cost <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/sbp/school-breakfast-program">breakfast</a> and <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp">lunch</a>, as well; check with your school for more information.

Exercising: <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/types-exercise/article/health-experts-urge-move-more-sit-less">Physical activity</a> can help elementary schoolers relax and concentrate. Experts recommend children 6 years and older get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily. Organized sports, playing outside with friends or visiting the local playground is often enough to do the trick.

Get organized 
Parents and guardians can help kids relax if they&rsquo;re relaxed themselves&mdash;and that means getting your ducks in a row well before the first bell rings. Try to schedule necessary physical exams and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/child-immunization/slideshow/number-one-keep-kids-safe-school">vaccinations</a> earlier in the summer, since pediatricians&rsquo; offices get a little nuts come August.

&ldquo;The week before school, everybody needs school physicals,&rdquo; says Gunter. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a massive push at the end of summer to get all this done.&rdquo;

For children with health conditions like <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/asthma-allergies-in-the-classroom">asthma or food allergies</a>, make sure the school nurse is aware ahead of time and knows when and how to administer medications. Take care to fill out related health and emergency contact forms, too.

If you have a child with an individualized education program (IEP), you&rsquo;ll want to confirm teachers, schedules and accommodations for the new year, especially if you&rsquo;ve moved or switched schools. It&rsquo;s a good idea to send copies of the IEP to relevant personnel, too&mdash;and to ensure your child understands their provided services.

Consider when it&rsquo;s more than butterflies 
Sometimes, a child&rsquo;s back-to-school distress goes beyond typical jitters. &ldquo;What happens in some kids is they start having more worry and more fear, and that fear then leads to true anxiety,&rdquo; Gunter says. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll see this progressive resistance to school&mdash;more and more tears as opposed to fewer and fewer.&rdquo;

If your child&rsquo;s struggles are worsening, or if they&rsquo;re having physical issues linked to stress, like stomachaches or headaches, reach out to a teacher, school counselor or your child&rsquo;s healthcare provider (HCP). A pediatrician&rsquo;s job, says Gunter, &ldquo;is to reassure the parent or give them tips and tricks to help their child overcome this.&rdquo; HCPs can also help diagnose something more serious, he adds, like <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/slideshow/signs-worry-childs-mental-health">depression or anxiety</a>, and get kids the support they need.

Ultimately, while a new school year may stoke some truly understandable fears, addressing those worries head-on and encouraging good habits can take a load off&mdash;for your child and for you.

Medically reviewed in September 2019.

6 Ways to Help Your Child Handle School Stress

When Marshall McLuhan, the 1960s guru of communication, declared &ldquo;the medium is the message,&rdquo; he was talking about radio, TV, LP records, tape players and film. He probably never imagined Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, the Internet, digital everything&mdash;cameras, video, podcasts, TED talks, GIFs.

But he remains right about one thing: Whatever the message, the platform upon which it is delivered shapes the meaning and impact of the message it contains.

Today, in lieu of full sentences, we get abbreviated texts, full of LOLs and emojis. This raises the question: Do social media&rsquo;s enormous benefits and pleasures compensate for&mdash;or pale in comparison to&mdash;the harm it does to individuals and relationships?

The benefits of social media are well-studied and real. They range from encouraging artistic expression among folks who might not have thought to give it a try, to the instant fact-checking of politicians and encouragement of democracy (The Arab Spring). In addition, social media allows easy access to the world&rsquo;s best authorities on everything from medicine to rock climbing, the opportunity for friends and families to stay in touch more easily, for older folks or those who are more socially isolated to reconnect with friends or join support groups, and for people from around the globe to feel part of a community in which similarities are more important than differences.

And those are just some of the wonders of the digital age that are being enjoyed by around 3 billion people worldwide&mdash;about 40 percent of the total population.

But research keeps pointing out how harmful getting immersed in social media can become. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents to be aware of the potential damage social media can do to their <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/slideshow/signs-worry-childs-mental-health">child&rsquo;s mental health</a> because of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/words-weapons-bullycide-how-concerned">cyberbullying</a> and what they call &ldquo;Facebook depression.&rdquo;

Additional research shows girls age 10 who are active on social media are far more unhappy when they are adolescents than those who were not on social media at so early an age. While yet another study found 11- to 17-year-olds find the pressure to be online 24/7 destroys their sleep and can cause anxiety and depression. There&rsquo;s even research published in JAMA that indicates for people who have no symptoms of ADHD, heavy use of social media may trigger the condition!

When you ask teens about the impact of social media on their lives, 24 percent say it&rsquo;s mostly negative, 45 percent say it makes no difference and only 31 percent say it&rsquo;s positive. And mature adults don&rsquo;t escape potential harm&mdash;especially if they&rsquo;re already having mental health issues, are worried about their work or social status or become addicted to building networks.

The solution? Stay connected, but not obsessed. One study found complete screen abstinence did not correlate with happiness either. The teens who were the happiest reported <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/how-screen-time-too-much-kids">using digital media</a> a bit under an hour a day. So . . .

<ul>
	<li>Limit your (or your child&rsquo;s) time with social media&mdash;not including email&mdash;to 30 to 60 minutes daily.</li>
	<li>Delete any site on which you experience bullying, criticisms or other negative interactions.</li>
	<li>Make your account private so you limit who can post comments, and who you consider a friend. Stick with those folks who are in fact friends or members of a community of like-minded participants.</li>
	<li>No digital devices in the bedroom.</li>
</ul>

Social media is a tool, like a hammer that can build a beautifully crafted cabinet or a flimsy piece of junk. How it turns out is in your hands. Click wisely.

Medically reviewed in February 2020.

What Message Is Social Media Sending Teens?

A new study from MIT and researchers working in Beijing found musical training&mdash;specifically piano&mdash;improves language learning skills for children and is possibly more beneficial than offering children extra reading lessons.

Looking at three test groups of 74 kids, four to five years old, researchers found giving them piano lessons at the age when they&rsquo;re developing their vocabulary &ldquo;uniquely enhanced cortical responses to pitch changes in music and speech . . . [T]he piano group demonstrated unique advantages over the reading and control groups in consonant-based word discrimination.&rdquo; In short, musical training helped the preschoolers with speech-sound processing.

This follows a report this year in Neuron on an NIH/Kennedy Center workshop on Music and the Brain that says musical training in children can foster the development of a variety of nonmusical skills, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/stress-reduction/article/stressed-take-those-old-records-off-the-shelf">relieve stress</a>, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/teenager-emotional-health/article/teen-depression-parents-support">help treat&nbsp;depression</a> and may have cognitive-sharpening abilities.

If your child doesn&rsquo;t care for piano lessons, see what he or she thinks about trying out other instruments, like the trombone. Marching bands need them!

Medically reviewed in January 2020.

Teen Health Development