A well-developed playground in a park or school setting can greatly enhance childen's overall development, making playgrounds more than just fun. Playgrounds offer children opportunities to develop physically, mentally, and socially, improving academic readiness as well as overall health. The paper discusses the importance of movement, how…

For expanded school mental health programs to feature improved access, increased productivity, and improved behavioral outcomes, researchers, school-based mental health service providers, and educators must collaborate to move them beyond limiting constructs and approaches. The paper reviews these issues and offers an example of an ideal approach…

To successfully address mental health and psychosocial concerns in schools, practices must not be marginalized and must be implemented cohesively. Mechanisms and processes are needed to minimize marginalized and fragmented practice, link school and community resources, and develop comprehensive, multifaceted approaches. These include a…

Analyzes preventive strategies to reduce childhood injuries through education, environmental change, and enforcement of legislation and regulation, offering recommendations for steps to reduce the toll of injuries on children's lives. After discussing the magnitude, trends, and costs associated with childhood injuries and models for prevention,…

The social benefits of a well-educated population are probably considerable. Increased education is strongly and positively correlated with measures of health, strong families, children's well-being, a clean environment, and absence of violent crime. The book "The Social Benefits of Education" (Behrman and Stacey, editors) discusses…

Evaluated statistically the effect of intranatal and early postnatal period factors on mental development of very low-birth-weight infants. Covariance structure analysis revealed direct influence of birth weight and gestational age in weeks on mental development at age 1, and of opthalmological aberrations and respirator disorder on mental…

Examined relation of possible selves to smoking and drinking for 1,606 sixth through ninth graders. Found that smoking and drinking were related negatively to number of positive expected selves and balance between expected selves and feared selves. When both possible-selves were entered in model simultaneously, only the number of positive expected…

Examines the issue of overweightness and obesity among children. Addresses the following: (1) magnitude of obesity and overweightness; (2) growth of the problem in recent years; (3) diet and other key roles; and (4) the relation of obesity to income, education, and ethnicity. (SD)

The problem of childhood obesity and inadequate physical activity is growing, with the biggest physical activity decline occurring in high school. This paper discusses the need to promote physical activity at school and home and get children in shape. Two sidebars describe: National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and how to determine a school'…

Reports that more than 10 million children in the United States are without health care, most of whom can obtain help through such organizations as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Discusses connecting health care with school lunch programs, and states that the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) is working on…

The Human Genome Initiative (HGI) constructs common resources for studying human genetics. Early identification of people at risk for genetic disorders allows for early education and counseling. HGI research will create inexpensive, reliable genetic tests and diagnoses to help teachers and school staff assess, compare, and channel students. (SM)

Evaluates an attempt to establish a support group for parents and relatives whose children were in the care of one health board, based on a qualitative study supplemented by individual interviews. Shows that this support group was successful. Suggests ways in which the therapeutic potential of such groups could be enhanced and more parents…

Discusses the current status of immunizations, the latest immunization recommendations, and the important role of school nurses in ensuring that all students are properly immunized with the correct immunizations at the correct time. An alphabetical listing of immunizations provides specific details. The paper also discusses myths versus facts…

Assessment of pesticide exposure in 96 homes of migrant Latino farmworkers with preschool children found the most frequent pesticide residue to be azinphos-methyl (AZM). AZM levels in farmworker homes were related to distance from fields and number of resident agricultural workers. Children's play areas had potential for disproportionate exposure.…

Describes sources of indoor air pollution and health risk to children, such as asthma and lower respiratory infections. Asserts that risk of asthma is greater among African-American and Hispanic children attending urban schools. Suggests ways principals can help improve indoor air quality. (PKP)