Notes that reversing the "quiet crisis" in health and education facing infants and toddlers in America requires action in four key areas: (1) promoting responsible parenthood; (2) guaranteeing quality child care choices; (3) ensuring good health and protection; and (4) mobilizing communities to support young children and their families.…

Recent litigations underscore the importance of effective supervision practices for physical educators. To help educators avoid situations in which the courts dictate prudent teaching practices, suggestions made by experts in the field may help define effective supervision. The article presents techniques to create and maintain a safe environment.…

Reviews state statutes that were used as a defense in cases in which seriously ill children were treated exclusively by spiritual healing practices. Such cases involve questions concerning the constitution, and the rights of parents, children, and the state. There is a trend toward legislative restrictions of the use of spiritual healing as a…

Data on the effects of physical exercise on children's physiological functions were used to develop guidelines for fitness. These guidelines address exercise prescription, alternative activities, considerations for teachers and principals, and testing. (BC)

Analyzes contributions physical education makes to child and adult health. Topics discussed are current levels of U.S. children's physical activity; status of elementary physical education programs; health-related physical activity interventions; public health analysis of elementary physical education; and public health role and goal for physical…

Researchers recommend that physical educators pursue a public health goal, preparing students for a lifetime of physical activity. If the role physical educators play in improving health is better understood by public health professionals, support for quality physical education programs will increase. (SM)

Four aspects of violence in the lives of U.S. children are of great concern today: children are involved in violence at every level, there are no safe harbors for many children, family violence is frequent, and society accepts violence as part of its culture. (SM)

Explains how parents can help alleviate their children's anxiety when visiting the doctor or taking medication. The Children's Health Forum helps parents and children via booklets distributed nationally in doctors' offices and pharmacies that allow children fully to express their opinions and feelings. (SM)

Examines 178 gifted Texas children to determine differences in their health locus of control. Results provide evidence that gifted children, in general, may be less prone to adolescent health-risk behaviors than nongifted children. Findings suggest revision in both school health curricula and instructional practices for gifted children. (GLR)

Describes a statewide childhood gun safety program in New Mexico aimed at reducing the availability of loaded guns at home. Focusing on increasing safety awareness of communities, health care professionals, parents, and gun owners, the program will be continued with a new three-year funding grant. (SLD)

Presents seven reasons why it is important for health specialist teams to take action supporting the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. The article offers guidelines to help parents assist their children in maintaining positive eating, exercise, and self-esteem patterns, noting sensitive intervention is preferable to imposed diets. (SM)

Argues that although home visiting programs themselves have mixed results in addressing family health and welfare needs, such programs, as part of a comprehensive, family-focused health and social services system, can have an important impact on the health and welfare of children. (MDM)

As weight training becomes increasingly popular with children and adolescents, physicians need to advise patients and parents about what is safe and what is not. Young people who adhere to a well-supervised, progressive strength training program can improve their strength and improve performance in other sports. (SM)

Describes the Massachusetts experience of developing medication-administration regulations for public and private schools and implementing those regulations within the commonwealth. The model recognizes that school nurses and school physicians are the decision makers about medications in school. The regulations demand that school districts…

Describes schoolwide asthma screening in an inner-city Minneapolis elementary school, discussing the effectiveness and feasibility of the screening efforts. Screening methodology resulted in a simple, noninvasive, efficient approach for identifying children with current asthma in a school setting. The paper proposes how such a screening program…