STANFORD, Calif-- Overview
Pediatricians at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital know that summer fun can quickly give way to unexpected health issues.   For reporters planning summer stories on parenting and kids’ health, contact the clinicians and researchers at Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine.  These and other experts are available to provide tips on making summer ’06 safe for all.
 
Watch that summer weight
As director of advocacy at the hospital’s center for healthy weight, Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH, sees that summer can exacerbate obesity, particularly for children in low-income families. “Kids who play sports during the school year sometimes can't participate in summer sports and end up indoors watching TV,” said Dr. Chamberlain.  “Some kids also have a lot of unsupervised time and their diets become less healthy.”  Dr. Chamberlain suggested families structure their summer so that their children are healthy and ready to learn in the fall.  “Depending on a child's interest, each child should have 1-2 structured summer activities that can get them out of the house daily,” said Chamberlain.  “Community organizations, the local Y, and area parks are a good place to start.”
 
Healthy eating in a fast-food world
“Picnics, playing outside, and summer travel make it all too easy for kids and families to feast on junk food,” said Julie Matel, MS, dietician and nutritionist at Packard Children’s.  “But with proper planning, there are lots of ways to create healthy summer treats, such as popsicles made out of pure fruit juice.”  Matel also suggested kids stay hydrated by drinking water that’s been slightly flavored by fruit juice.
 
Don’t forget the bone bank
Laura Bachrach, MD, pediatric endocrinologist at Packard Children’s, is concerned about the increasing number of childhood fractures.  “Good bones are so much more than calcium,” said Dr. Bachrach.  “Our bone bank is built in childhood, and probably the biggest bone boosts for our kids would come from more activity and a healthier diet.”  No doubt summertime nutrition is a challenge, but Dr. Bachrach said it’s essential for parents to stay diligent.  “Activity and adequate calcium are the building blocks to better bone health through all seasons.”
 
Glued to the screen
“Whether it’s television or computers, almost all children increase their media consumption over the summer months,” said Thomas Robinson, MD, MPH, director of the center for healthy weight and nationally known for his research into TV, computer, and videogame usage.  “This can lead to a ‘nag factor’ within the family, as children badger their parents for items they've seen advertised.  It’s a strategy that marketers know and use," said Dr. Robinson.  “Due to the increasing spending power of adolescents and children, it’s wise for parents to learn to identify this ploy and prepare sound strategies to disarm it.”  Dr. Robinson also is available to discuss how television and videogame usage can impact test scores, aggressive behavior, obesity, and alcohol use.
 
Safety, safety, safety
“With more recreational activities, kids have a greater chance of injury during the summer,” said Sharon Williams, PhD, director of outpatient child psychiatry clinics.  Dr. Williams, a specialist in pediatric head injury, said proper supervision is essential.  “Children should be watched,” said Dr. Williams, “particularly with ball games or activities that could allow them to wander into the street or near a car.  Any type of water activity requires careful monitoring, too.”  And don’t forget the helmet when kids are on bikes, scooters, or skateboards.  “Helmets are essential when protecting kids from serious head injury,” said Bernard Dannenberg, MD, director of pediatric emergency medicine at Packard Children’s.  “We don’t want to see these kids in our emergency department.”
 
Child-proof those windows
Every summer we hear tragic stories of children falling out of open windows.  “This is a very dangerous situation, especially for small kids,” said Swati Agarwal, MD, who has seen victims as young as ten months.  “For all rooms above the first floor parents should install window guards,” added Dr. Agarwal, “and furniture needs to be moved away from windows.  We know how they love to climb.”  Dr. Agarwal also wants parents to know that window screens do not prevent kids from falling out of windows, only window guards do.
 
Make that sunscreen work
“Parents ask us a lot of questions about using sunscreens on children,” said Anna Bruckner, MD, chief of dermatology at Packard Children’s.  “We recommend sun avoidance and protective clothing as the first line of sun defense.  If sunscreen is used, we advise parents to use it liberally, starting about 30 minutes prior to exposure, even on cloudy days, and to reapply it every one to two hours.  A sun protection factor of 30 or higher is best.”  Dr. Bruckner can also recommend tips for parents seeking a safe and effective insect repellent.
 
Travel smart
Fidgety kids make for tough travel.  Again, Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH, mother of two, had advice.  “A good idea for long car trips is to take breaks at rest stops.  Let the kids get out and play for a while,” she said.  What about snacks?  “Filling a cooler with healthy bars, crackers, and bottled water can help parents avoid filling kids with junk food.”  Whether plane, train, or automobile, Dr. Chamberlain stressed preparation.  “Successful planning and packing needs to take into account the age and developmental stage of the child.  Younger children need more distraction since their attention span is short.  Parents need to bring a series of small things like books, magnetic games, crayons for drawing, and stickers so that they have one new activity to offer at needed intervals.  Older children will obviously require fewer distinct activities."
 
Lights out, please!
As a dad, Rafael Pelayo, MD, knows all too well that changing a child’s sleep pattern is not the easiest trick in the world.  As director of the pediatric sleep service at Packard Children’s, Dr. Pelayo offers ways to effectively transition kids to a summer sleep schedule.  One of his tips may be revolutionary.  “Sleep is a core value and parents should be role models for their kids.  This means parents and kids should try and maintain the same sleep schedule on weekends as on weekdays, even in the summer,” said Pelayo. 
 
For these and other nationally-recognized pediatric health experts and researchers, visit Packard Children’s Hospital at http://www.lpch.org.