Childhood Obesity

Please read the above article on Childhood Obesity.  Below are some suggestions and guidelines to follow.

• Set guidelines for how much time your kids can spend watching television or playing computer games.
• Plan fun family activities that involve exercise and calorie burn, such as hiking or biking.
• Eat meals together as a family and keep the TV off.  Eat slowly and enjoy your food.
• Do not use food as a reward or punishment.
• Involve your kids in meal planning and grocery shopping.
• Keep healthy snacks in the house.  Fruits and vegetables, low fat cheese, and yogurt are good snack options.

When a child awakens on a school day with a sore throat and runny nose, Parents may wonder whether to keep their little one home for the day.

Dr. Jacqueline Kaari, vice-chair of Pediatrics at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine, knows the decision is difficult.  Sending children that are too sick to school can worsen their condition and spread the illness to other students and teachers.

Kaari suggests following the American Academy of Otolaryngology’s Guidelines when it is time to make this decision. They are:

·        When a child has a temperature higher than 100 degrees keep him or

     her home until fever-free for 24 hours. A fever is a sign of a

     contagious infection.                         

·        Children taking antibiotics should be kept at home until they have taken the medicine for a day or two (at least 24 hours).

·        Never send a child who is vomiting or has diarrhea to school.

Kaari says children who have colds can go to school unless their symptoms keep them from participating in normal classroom activities.

                                        Courier-Post 3/19/06