Health
Back to School: Backpacks and Your Son's Health
With the new school year around the corner, is your son shopping for a new backpack? Raising Boys World crunches some numbers and takes a look at how overloaded backpacks can really weigh down on your son’s health.
In 2008, Consumer Reports conducted a study in Amityville, NY with children in second grade, fourth grade, and sixth grade from three different schools, and these were the findings:
As expected, the sixth grade kids had, on average, the heaviest backpacks at 18.4 pounds, followed by the second graders at 5.3 pounds, then the fourth graders at 4.6 pounds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics agree that the backpack a child carries should weight no more than 10% to 20% of the child’s weight. Looking back at our sample, the sixth graders were, on average, carrying 17.2% of their weight, the second graders - 8.6%, and the fourth graders - 5.6%. The second and fourth grade children did not seem to be at risk, but the sixth grade children’s average backpack weight are pretty close to the 20% mark.
In addition, many of these sixth grade children had only three chances to visit their lockers - in the morning, lunch, then at the end of the day (a common scenario in many middle schools), which means that they had to carry almost everything they needed that day in their backpacks. Heavy backpacks adds stress on the spine and shoulders, causing muscle strain, fatigue, and bad posture (a bad habit that can cause other back problems in the future), and in some cases, medical attention does become necessary.
Here are some good tips to remember when shopping for a new backpack with your son:
- The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends a backpack that hangs two inches above the waist. The lower the backpack hangs below the waist, the more strain it puts on the shoulders.
- Look for wide, padded shoulder strap and remind your son to wear both straps. Carrying the backpack by only one strap puts the entire weight of it on one side of the back, which increases the risk for lower back pain.
- A hip strap can help distribute the weight between the back and the hips.
- align: baseline;">Have your son pack the heaviest items close to the back.
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Children's Mental Health Awareness Week
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week (May 2-8) is Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, studies show that at least one in five children and adolescents have a mental health disorder. At least one in 10, which is about 6 million people, have a serious emotional disturbance.
SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, gives a general overview of Child and Adolescent Mental Health including causes and signs of mental disorder in young people, and how guardians can seek help. Other useful sources on the site:
Helping and Caring for Children with and Youth with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder
Helping and Caring for Children with Bipolar Disorder
Psychosocial Issues for Children and Adolescents in a Disaster, and how to talk to them after the Disaster or a Traumatic Event.
Also from SAMHSA:
"The Caring for Every Child's Mental Health communications campaign is a national public information and education campaign to:
- Increase public awareness about the importance of protecting and nurturing the mental health of young people.
- Foster recognition that many children have mental health problems that are real, painful, and sometimes severe.
- Encourage caregivers to seek early, appropriate treatment and services.
The campaign helps families, educators, health care providers, and young people recognize mental health problems and to seek or recommend appropriate services. It also strives to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems.
The campaign is a technical assistance program for the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and Their Families. Its fundamental messages are:
- Every child's mental health is important.
- Many children have mental health problems.
- These problems are real, painful, and can be severe.
- Mental health problems can be recognized and successfully treated.
- By working together, caring families and communities can help.
- Information is available from SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center by calling 1-800-789-2647."
Other related RBW links
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Is Your Child Physically Active?
Most parents assume that their children are physically active but unfortunately, most children are not moving enough. Children are lying in bed for 8-10 hours per night, sitting in school for another 7 hours or so, and plopped in front of the TV or computer for 4 or 6 hours every day. Then add the time that they are sitting down to meals and riding in the car and it’s easy to see that many children are too sitting too much.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day to stay healthy. This means that at least one hour of your child’s day should include aerobic tasks, muscle strengthening motions, and bone strengthening movements.
The majority of your child’s physical activity should consist of aerobic activity. Activities like bike riding, walking and hiking are classified as moderate intensity and should be included every day. Moderate activities will make your child’s heart beat faster and they will breathe harder but not get out of breath.
More intense activities that get your child’s heart beating even faster are classified as vigorous. Jumping rope, swimming, and running or chasing games often make a child want to stop and catch their breath after a few moments. Your child should participate in these activities at least 3 days per week.
To increase muscle strength, your child can climb and swing on playground equipment, wrestle or play tug of war with others, or do push-ups or chin-ups. These daily activities should challenge their muscles but they should not be so difficult that they cannot do them over and over.
Hopping, skipping, jumping, and tumbling are great ways for your child to strengthen their bones every day. Sports that involve kicking, throwing, or swinging are good choices too. Since these activities involve a bit more impact, children should be reminded to use caution and to stop if they feel any discomfort.
Active children are healthy children. By inspiring your child to be active for at least 60 minutes each day, you will be helping them develop healthy habits and attitudes that will last a lifetime.
Dr. Marc Tinsley is a chiropractic physician, fitness and rehabiltation expert, professional speaker, writer, and founder of Fitness For The Rest Of Us™. He is a leading authority in functional health, fitness and wellness who uses systems of healing and support that work with the body instead of against it. Dr. Tinsley is distinguished for his unique holistic approach in supporting the body's natural health systems and combining the art and science of chiropractic, exercise, nutrition and emotional health. Dr Tinsley is available for keynotes and workshops at conventions, conferences, meetings, in-services, and other events for business, schools, associations, non-profits, local government and more. He practices in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
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Attention Parents: Is Obesity in Your Child’s Future?
Did you know that being obese can take as many as 20 years off of your life? Or, that an overweight child has a 70 percent chance of becoming an overweight or obese adult—not to mention that obese children are prone to gallbladder disease, asthma, pneumonia and Type 2 diabetes!
America is in the midst of a health crisis, as the bodies of both adults and children reach shocking physical proportions. Many corporations are launching wellness initiatives to help employees fight fat; but what is being done for children? The situation has gone beyond simply changing the nutritional value of school lunches. The time has come for a full-blown intervention: The 100 Year Lifestyle solution. Parental participation necessary.
Shown to be one of the most effective ways to fight childhood obesity, parents need to not only encourage their children to lead healthy, active lives free of junk food and full of Superfoods, but they must participate in the life change. Here are some good places to start:
• Superfoods: Eat plenty of Superfoods including: blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, flaxseed, soy, beans and wild salmon. Forget the processed foods full of fat and other energy-draining ingredients. You might as well eat the cardboard box they come in!
• Exercise: Get at least 30 minutes of exercise three to five days per week to get your ESS in shape! (Endurance, Strength and Structure). Sign your kids up for sports or other after-school, physical activities. Or, make sure they go out and play after school rather than watching television. For parents, most of you are sitting for a living at your 9-5 job. Try weight training or jogging with a partner after work. Sign up for a gym membership and make exercise your new hobby. Whatever the activity, just get your bodies moving at least three days a week.
• Sleep: Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night for adults and 8-9.5 hours of sleep for children. The more sleep you get, the higher your metabolism.
Dr. Plasker is author of The 100 Year Lifestyle; a best-selling book and wellness system that enables people to make the most of their years through a unique, total-life program that addresses health, nutrition, exercise, mental agility, creativity, finances, friends and family, work, community, and achieving a sense of purpose. His innovative wellness model, created from a synergistic blend of Eastern and Western philosophies, has begun to transform healthcare delivery to millions who practice his principles. The owner of two highly successful family practices for almost 20 years, Dr. Plasker has been featured extensively by the media including CNN, FOX, NBC, Self, Woman’s World, Health and in major newspapers around the country.
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Sleep Deprived in El Nino
Is it me or is the weather so bad that the children should have stayed in school and skipped summer vacation?
I actually like rain. I enjoy the peacefulness that comes with a nice dreary rainy day. It always induces a contemplative mood for me. With kids, the experience is a bit less spiritual.
On a rainy day the kids complain more. The house begins to feel like prison, then the children start to revolt and eventually the house starts to look like a junk yard...which is the point at which you are finding me.
This summer may be a bit different. El Nino, the warming and cooling of eastern Pacific waters off the west coast of South America, has developed and is expected to persist through the winter months. According to Pablo Pereira of the LA Weather Examiner, "In the USA, look for more precipitation in the arid Southwest, less wintry weather across the North and a reduced risk of Florida wildfires. The downside can include damaging winter storms in California and increased storminess in the South."
All their craziness is making me really tired (and a little crabby).
Boy #1 complains that he's bored and has nothing to do. If I let him, he would play the Wii non-stop, but I don't let him. His Wii playing time is limited to maybe 3 times per week for 30 minutes per playing period (when the little guys are ub bed). With most of his friends at camp this summer (plus all the rain), I can understand his boredom. I remind him how lucky he is to have brothers to play with as built-in playdates.
Characteristic of Boy #2 is the knack for causing trouble when he is bored. He pushes one brother or hits another, then complains that his brothers are bugging him.Genrally, #1 and #2 play well together. They've been laying with Legos a ot and using their imagination. They also both enjoy doing crafts and drawing.
Boy #3 is loud, so there's always lots of noise when he's around. He doesn't realize how loud he is, he talks so incredibly loud that it sometimes makes my ears hurt. I'm getting his hearing checked just to be sure he doesn't have a hearing problem because when I ask him to speak quietly, he yells, "I'm talking quiet mommy!" Boy #2 is also in a hitting and throwing phase.
Boy #4 is almost walking and doesn't want to stay still anymore. Once he starts walking, I'm worried about him getting into Boy #3's things becasue it's going to cause some craziness.
It may be more stressful, (and I'm exhausted) but really, with a little creativity, there are plenty of thing to do, as long as I'm a little more patient than normal. One good thing about El Nino i that my garden is looking incredible!
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Paying For Pages
By Kirsetin Morello, of Hip Moms Guide
February 6, 2012
“Studies show that if you reward people for doing an activity, they often stop doing it for fun; being paid turns it into ‘work.’” So says Gretchen Rubin in her runaway bestseller, The Happiness Project. She even mentions reading. “Parents, for example, are warned not to pay children for reading—they’re teaching kids to read for a reward,” she says, “not for pleasure.”
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