The Pica Perspective

Your Feedback Needed!

As some of you already know, I'm hosting a new radio program focused on current issues for today's children! The program will allow you to eavesdrop on the conversations I have with leading parenting and early childhood development experts. By sharing these discussions, I'm hoping to give you access to the best guidance and insights into preparing our children's bodies and minds for life.

We're about to launch, and I would really appreciate your honest critique of the program and the website before we go public.

If you'll go to Body, Mind and Child right now you can listen to: "Should You Try to Boost Your Child's Brain Power?" with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (co-author of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards); "Giving Your Child the Very Best Head Start," with Dr. David Elkind; "Helping Your Child to Read Well," with Dr. Jane Healy; and others! These interviews sort through the myths and the hype, getting to the heart of what really matters in a child's first eight years.

Each program is available on demand -- for listening on the computer or downloaded to an MP3 player for listening during a commute, a workout, or a wait in line!

To visit the site, click here! Take a look -- and a listen -- and then send me your feedback! Oh, and if you like what you hear, please subscribe to automatically receive new shows as they're updated weekly! It's easy and it's free. (On the radio tab, click "Subscribe" just to the left of the baby's picture. If you already have iTunes on your computer, you won't have to do anything else. If you don't, you'll need to first download iTunes; but that's also free and easy!)

I look forward to hearing your thoughts! You can post them here or e-mail me directly at  raepica@movingandlearning.com. Thanks!

Sleep, Stand, & Play!

Reports on three different studies have recently crossed my desk (computer screen?), all of which are relevant to The Pica Perspective...

The first study determined that children who don't get enough sleep may be at increased risk for childhood obesity. Dr. Julie C. Lumeng, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study, says the reason for the connection between the two is unclear and that some unmeasured variables could have influenced the results. For example, parents may use food to pacify sleep-deprived children, or sleep-deprived children may request and receive food more often. Still, Dr. Lumeng posed two other explanations:

1. Children who don't get enough sleep are more likely to be tired the next day and therefore less likely to take part in physical activity.
2. A disrupted sleep cycle may interfere with how the body stores calories.

According to WebMD, children 1 to 3 years old need 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day, with children ages 3 to 6 requiring 10-3/4 to 12 hours a day. Children 7 to 12, they say, need 10 to 11 hours a day. I suspect that there are few children who actually get these amounts of sleep per day, but this certainly provides rationale for why public preschools and kindergartens should not be doing away with naptime!

Results from the second study show that sitting may increase the risk of disease! Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that sitting in chairs, using computers, reading, and watching TV had negative effects on fat and cholesterol metabolism -- and that exercising, even for an hour a day, wasn't enough to reverse these effects. These researchers recommend standing whenever possible -- for example, while on the phone -- as it burns double the number of calories! They say it's a misconception that actively exercising is the only way to make a difference in an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. Rather, they point out, standing and other non-exercise activities burn calories even in individuals who get no other exercise.

Finally, new research from the Medical College of Georgia shows that children who play vigorously for 20 to 40 minutes a day do better at the cognitive functions schools have had the hardest time improving. Among them are planning and organizing their work, staying focused, resisting stray impulses, correcting their own behavior, and using strategies to achieve their goals. And the children who played for 40 minutes made twice the gains of those who exercised for 20 minutes!

I must admit it bothers me when the mind takes precedence over the body -- in other words, when people think so little of the body that we have to show them the benefits to the brain that come from using the body. But...I'm glad for whatever information I can use to get people -- children, specifically -- physically active! And with each new piece of information that comes along comes renewed hope that the schools -- and those who set school policy -- will start to see the light!

Kids & High Blood Pressure

The topic of high blood pressure in children has been in the news lately, and I've been determined to address it here. But this morning I came across a Q&A from Dr. Andrew Weil that addresses the issue as well as anyone could; so I'm offering it in lieu of my own thoughts.

The latest news on this subject comes from a study involving more than 14,000 youngsters, from age three to age 18 in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The study began in 1999 and ended in 2006. During those years, the kids were observed at least three times at outpatient clinics. The diagnosis of hypertension or pre-hypertension wasn't made on the basis of a single elevated reading - instead, a child's blood pressure would have to have been recorded as high on three different visits. Of the more than 14,000 kids participating in the study, 507 (3.6 percent of the total) were found to have hypertension. Of this number, only 131 had been diagnosed with high blood pressure in the normal course of their medical care. By extrapolating those numbers to the whole population of the United States, the study authors concluded that approximately two million American kids have high blood pressure, but only 500,000 cases will be diagnosed. The study was published in the August 22/29, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Surprising as it may seem, high blood pressure can occur among children and, sadly, it often goes undiagnosed. This is very bad news because unchecked high blood pressure at any age can lead to serious health problems.

These numbers are shocking, but we don't have to look far for the cause - the epidemic of childhood obesity is largely to blame. It's estimated that about 30 percent of overweight and obese kids have high blood pressure - and if the epidemic continues, the problem is likely to get worse.

The reason so much of this high blood pressure is being missed is because blood pressure considered "normal" for kids isn't readily apparent. It depends on their height, age, and sex. Few doctors are likely to remember the numbers that are normal for, say, a girl of four who is tall for her age versus a nine year old boy who is short for his age and so on - the variations are endless. Experts on this subject say that convenient new tools are needed to help the average pediatrician recognize the numbers that signal high blood pressure in children.

The strategies for treating high blood pressure even in very young patients are similar to those for hypertensive adults: exercise, cutting back on salt and making healthy changes in diet to slim down. If kids - or their parents - are not willing to make the necessary changes (or if those changes don't help), medication may be needed. Otherwise, these youngsters face increased risk of heart problems, stroke, and kidney damage in later life, just like adults with undiagnosed or uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

I want to wish all of my readers a very happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to give thanks for, and being able to communicate with you is definitely on the list! Enjoy the holiday!

Organizations Taking Action

Once upon a time I felt completely alone in my efforts to spread the "movement message." Twenty-seven years ago, when I first started down this path, and for a long time afterward, I was the only children's movement specialist that I knew! Worse still, nobody seemed to want to hear my message. Early childhood professionals, who believed children already moved enough, certainly didn't want to hear the words "children" and "movement" in the same sentence. In truth, I often felt they were backing away from me much in the same way they'd back away from a dentist holding a drill!

The fact that everybody's talking about physical activity for kids today is a double-edged sword. Yes, my topic and I are more "popular" than ever. Unfortunately, that's in large part due to the reality that children are leading increasingly sedentary lives and becoming increasingly overweight and obese...

But I certainly don't feel alone anymore! Here are three instances of others "fighting the good fight":

• The American Association for the Child's Right to Play (IPA/USA) is working to get the United States to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They're particularly interested in Article 31, which states that children should have the right to play. According to IPA/USA president Olga Jarrett, the Convention has the stature of international law. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is the enforcement body, and this committee collects reports on violations by the nations of the world. Because the US hasn't ratified the treaty, we don't have a seat on the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Therefore the US doesn't have a say in enforcement through the UN. The US and Somalia, which doesn't have a viable government, are the only two nations that haven't ratified!
• The National Parent Teacher Association is highlighting November as Healthy Lifestyles Month and is offering support to parents seeking to learn about encouraging healthier nutrition and physical activity behaviors for their families. One of their resources for parents is PTA Healthy Lifestyles: A Parent's Guide, which is downloadable at their site. It includes sections on physical activity, nutrition, grocery shopping, school wellness policies, and vaccinations.
• Partnering with the PTA in their efforts is Action for Healthy Kids. For information on how parents and schools can work together on school-based wellness initiatives, download their field report, Tapping into the Power: Engaging Parents in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity, which highlights how successful parent/school programs can impact children's health.

What the Professionals Are Talking About

Well, I'm back from the "windy city" and the whirlwind that is the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children; and I thought I'd share a little of the experience with you.

From what I was told, this year's conference brought together 22,000 members of the Association, which is this country's largest organization of early childhood professionals (about 100,000 members). The conference featured more than 600 breakout sessions and approximately 1000 exhibitors! And because the McCormack Convention Center is absolutely enormous, I got in a lot of exercise along with my learning!

When I discussed the conference with my business partner, he wanted to know what the people there were talking about. Of course, I'm sure they were talking about a lot of different things; but my particular interests put me in places and in touch with people who were discussing topics relevant to my work! So I have to admit my perspective may be a bit slanted. Still, I learned some interesting things!

• There's a new PBS documentary on the horizon. Produced by Michigan Television and titled "Where Do the Children Play?" the program looks at the disappearance of children's free play. Call your local PBS affiliate to make sure it airs in your area!
• One of my favorite sessions was "Separating the Hype from the Reality of the Smart Baby Video Phenomenon." The session was filmed and will be aired at the website of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media. Also of interest: The Center on Media and Child Health has gathered all of the research regarding children and media into one place and it presents the research in a way that's accessible to parents and teachers (as opposed to other researchers). Go to the website and enter the area designated for parents and teachers to learn how you can help children use media in safe and healthy ways!
• I was pleased by the standing-room-only crowds at the sessions titled "Restoring Play" and "How Play Works." On the other hand, that kind of attendance indicates that the loss of play in children's lives and education is a huge concern for early childhood professionals. Attendees definitely viewed No Child Left Behind as a villain.
• Speaking of No Child Left Behind, I was dismayed by a conversation I had with Carol Stern, V-P of Educational Activities, a leading company of children's music.  Carol relayed the story of a kindergarten teacher in New York City who asked for her help linking specific songs to New York's educational standards. The reason? She was no longer allowed to purchase music or anything else for her class that didn't directly relate to standards or teach to the tests! Stories like that just add more white to my hair!

Wanted in the UK: Play Rangers

As I mentioned in Tuesday's blog, I'm in Chicago this week at the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. So, this will also be a brief post.

Click here to read an article from the United Kingdom on the job description for "play rangers": adults trained in supporting children's outdoor play. It's a really cool idea -- one also adopted by the International Play Association, which refers to them as "play workers." It helps answer the question "How are we going to get children to play outside when their parents are afraid to send them outside?"

Although the statistics show that children are no less safe than my generation was as kids, the fear factor is a huge presence in today's society. We can't just ask parents to ignore their fears, which means we can't go back to the "good old days." We need solutions appropriate for today's culture. "Play rangers" is one such solution!

Federal Legislation re: Education

This week I'm attending -- and presenting at -- the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. So I'm "borrowing" information sent to me by Amy Lux of the Coalition for Children's Health for this post.

Here's some federal legislation that's been introduced recently and that is relevant to our cause here. If there's something here you feel strongly about and your senator or representative isn't listed as a sponsor, contact him or her and ask for their support. You can find contact information at www.congress.org.

S 651 PLAY Every Day Act 2/15/07

 To help promote the national recommendation of physical activity to kids, families, and communities across the United States. The Secretary of Education, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall provide grants to State health departments to enable the State health departments to work in partnership with eligible community-based coalitions to plan and implement model communities of play. They shall use grant funds in partnership with community coalitions to carry out a community action plan and promote a model community of play, by enabling the maximum use of, or the creation of, spaces and places for physical activity for children, families, and communities before, during, and after school or work. This may include increasing the number of schools serving the community that provide recess, physical education, and physical activity for children and youth.

Sponsors: Harken, Clinton

Co-sponsors: Bingaman, Hagel, Landrieu, Mikulski, Sanders, Boxer, Durbin, Inouye, Menendez, Nelson

Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

HR 2045 PLAY Every Day Act 4/27/07

House version.

 Sponsors: Udall, Granger, Boswell, McIntyre, Cummings

 Co-sponsors: Abercrombie, Allen, Blumenauer, Alexander, Bishop, Bordallo, Boucher, Brady, Braley, Capps, Carson, Castor, Chandler, Christensen, Cohen, Delahunt, Doyle, Duncan, English, Etheridge, Filner, Fortuno, Frank, Gerlach, Gillibrand, Gonzalez, Gordon, Green, Hastings, Hinchey, Hinojosa, Israel, Jefferson, Kind, LaHood, Lewis, Maloney, Markey, Marshall, McGovern, McNulty, Miller, Moran, Musgrave, Myrick, Napolitano, Norton, Olver, Pastor, Payne, Price, Ramstad, Renzi, Rothman, Salazar, Schakowsky, Snyder, Souder, Towns, Weiner

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

HR 3257 Fitness Integrated with Teaching Act (Fit Kids Act) 7/31/07

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve standards for physical education, asking states to show demonstrated progress toward meeting the national goal for required physical education, which is 150 minutes per week for all students in elementary schools and 225 minutes per week for all students in middle and high schools.

 Sponsors: Kind, Wamp, Inslee

 Co-sponsors: Sanford, Carson, Braley, Clay, Costa, Filner, Gordon, Hare, Johnson, Kagen, Lipinski, Lofgren, Maloney, McIntyre, McNerney, Moran, Norton, Ryan, Sarbanes, Smith

 
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

 

S 2173 Fitness Integrated with Teaching Act (Fit Kids Act) 10/17/07

Senate version

Sponsor: Harkin

Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

HR 1224 'Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007' 2/28/07

 
To amend section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding challenging academic content standards for physical education. The Secretary of Education may award grants on a competitive basis to State education agencies to establish and revise state standards for physical education. Grants may be used to develop, revise, or improve physical education curriculum to meet minimum content and performance standards established by the Secretary, to purchase content materials and equipment to implement physical education curriculum, to assist in the implementation of physical education model programs; and provide for staff and teacher training and education.

Sponsors: Wamp, Kind, Inslee

Co-sponsors: Abercrombie, Bishop, Filner, Fortuno, Gordon, Hare, Holden, Jackson-Lee, Lofgren, Moran, Norton, Payne, Rahall, Rothman, Ryan, Shays, Walsh, Wicker

Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce

 

S 2066 'Back to School: Improving Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education in Schools Act of 2007' 9/18/07

To establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.

Sponsor: Obama

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

HR 3606 Access to Complete Education Act 9/19/07

 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants for core curriculum development. Support systemic, comprehensive education reform by strengthening the instruction of music and arts, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, history, geography, and physical education and health as an integral part of the elementary and secondary school curriculum.

 Sponsors: Woolsey, Hare, Loebsack, Sarbanes,

Jefferson

 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

HR 3642 Expanded Learning Time Demonstration Act 9/24/07

 Amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide support through competitive grants to local education agencies and State education agencies to to expand learning time in the form of longer school days.

 Sponsor: Payne

 Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education

HR 1702 Common Sense Budget Act of 2007 3/26/07

 
To reallocate funds toward sensible priorities such as improved children's education, increased children's access to health care, expanded job training, and increased energy efficiency and conservation through a reduction of wasteful defense spending, and for other purposes. $10,000,000,000 shall be made available to carry out the modernization of school facilities under section 8007(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

Sponsors: Woolsey, Lee, Kucinich, Jackson-Lee, Kilpatrick, Schakowsky, Grijalva, Serrano, Stark, Becerra, Carson, Christensen, Ellison, Filner, Gutierrez, Hinchey, Honda, Kaptur, McDermott, McGovern, Rush, Solis, Watson

Co-sponsors: Clarke, Clay, Cleaver, Cohen, Conyers, Cummings, Farr, Fattah, Hare, Jackson, Jones, Lewis, McDermott, McGovern, Meeks, Moore, Norton, Olver, Payne, Thompson, Velazquez, Watt, Welch, Wynn

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, Homeland Security, Foreign Affairs, and Veterans' Affairs

Parents & Sports

Ellen's post in response to my blog called "Do Sports Build Character" just begged for some comment from me on sports parents! In other words, it gave me the perfect excuse to address this issue -- if only a little for now...

I absolutely agree that this is an area that calls for balance -- and that an awful lot of sports parents are pretty unbalanced where their kids athletic "careers" are concerned. The example Ellen gave of the parents whose two sons -- ages 8 and 10! -- are being prepped for college hockey is a perfect one of parents who need to get a better grip on reality. So, here's some reality:

• Most children who begin specializing in a sport at an early age end up quitting, either due to burnout or overuse injuries. According to a survey conducted by USA Today and NBC, 75% of the children who'd started playing organized sports at 6 or 7 had stopped playing by age 15.
• Only 25% of the stars of youth leagues become stars in high school.
• Fewer than 1% of children playing organized sports will obtain a college athletic scholarship.
• The odds of a high school football player getting to the pros are 6,000 to one.
• The odds of a high school basketball player getting to the pros are 10,000 to one.

I actually saw a YouTube video today (interesting timing, since I almost never go to that site) regarding this topic. Don Lucia, coach of the University of Minnesota's men's hockey team, talks about parents and coaches in youth hockey. He starts off by saying that the best coaching job in the world is to be head coach at an orphanage: No parents! He also says that if parents took all the money they spent on camps, equipment, training, etc., and put it in a savings account, they wouldn't need their children to get athletic scholarships for college!

Great point!