DAILY SCHOOL RECESS LEADS TO BETTER CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

A break during the school day was associated with better classroom behavior in the study, “School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior.” Researchers studied an equal number of U.S. girls and boys, ages 8 to 9 years, and found that a break of 15 minutes or more was associated with better classroom behavior as judged by the teacher. Presently, many schoolchildren are given less free time and fewer physical outlets at school because many school districts responded to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by reducing time committed to recess. The present study illustrated that this trend especially affects those children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Also, this study showed that among those children who do not have recess, almost 2/3 had minimal other physical activity in school. The available research indicates that recess may play an important role in the social development, learning and health of children in elementary school, and parents should learn about physical activity and recess programs before selecting a school for their child.

CELL PHONES ARE DISTRACTING TO CHILD PEDESTRIANS

For the first time, a new study examines how cell phone usage distracts preadolescent children while crossing the street. In “Effects of Cell Phone Distraction on Pediatric Pedestrian Injury Risk,” researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham used data from children aged 10 to 11 years in simulated road crossings in an interactive, virtual pedestrian environment. Distraction was only by cell phone conversation with a research assistant, not by other commonly used devices such as portable audio players or text messaging. Results indicate that when distracted, children were less attentive to traffic, left less time between themselves and the next oncoming vehicle, and were involved in more collisions and near misses. While cell phones offer convenience and safety to families, the study authors indicate that pedestrians - especially children - are likely to be more distracted than adults, and should limit cell phone use while crossing the street.

TEENS MORE LIKELY TO SMOKE IF PARENTS DO

If parents smoke, chances are their adolescents will too. The study, “Parental Smoking and Adolescent Smoking Initiation: An Intergenerational Perspective on Tobacco Control,” looked at 564 adolescents enrolled in the New England Family Study. The authors found that there is a direct link between parental smoking and initiation of smoking by adolescents. The factors impacting the initiation of smoking by teens were parents who were active regular smokers and parents who smoked around their children before age 13. Fathers who smoke are more likely to influence teen boys than girls. The authors conclude that this study can be used to encourage parents to quit smoking as part of an effort to curb the initiation of smoking among teens.

Note: The February issue of Pediatrics features two additional articles on tobacco use: “Decreased Aortic Elasticity in Healthy 11-Year-Old Children Exposed to Tobacco Smoke,” and “Water-Pipe Tobacco Smoking Among Middle and High School Students in Arizona.”

PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF ADHD DRUGS IN CHILDREN

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common diagnosis in U.S. school children, and many of these children are treated with medication. In the study, “Hallucinations and Other Psychotic Symptoms Associated With the Use of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs in Children,” researchers analyzed data from 49 randomized, controlled clinical trials as well as postmarketing surveillance data on ADHD drugs. The data show that some people, including some with no identifiable risk factors, can develop drug-related symptoms of psychosis or mania at usual doses. Hallucinations involving visual or tile sensations of insects, snakes or worms were reported in pediatric postmarketing cases. Patients and physicians should be aware that these symptoms may represent adverse drug reactions.

CHILDREN WITHOUT A USUAL SOURCE OF CARE HAVE MORE UNMET NEEDS

The proportion of uninsured children who did not have a usual source of care has grown in recent years, according to the study, “Usual Source of Care and Unmet Need Among Vulnerable Children: 1998-2006.” Children who have a usual source of medical care have higher rates of preventive care, and require fewer acute care visits (those for illness or injury) and hospitalizations. The study looked at data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine the influence of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and the President’s Health Center Initiative on helping children to have a “medical home,” as well as to identify the degree of unmet medical need for these groups of children. Although there were fewer uninsured children in 2006 than in 1998, the number of uninsured children without a usual source of care was higher. Children with private or public insurance who had no usual source of care were two to three times more likely to have unmet medical needs in most study years.