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Kids Health News
Govt 'cannot force schools' to offer healthy food
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 05/01/2012.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The Department of Education has stated there is nothing it can do to prevent schools installing vending machines that offer unhealthy snacks to pupils.
A spokesperson from the government said it is a matter for each school to draw up guidelines for the food that is available on its premises, the Irish Examiner reports.
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'One in four' three-year-olds overweight
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 02/12/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The latest findings from the Growing Up in Ireland study focusing on kids' health have revealed one in four three-year-olds in the country is overweight.
This includes six per cent of youngsters who are classified as obese, the study found, while it also noted those growing up in the most disadvantaged households are more likely to suffer from this problem.
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Childhood obesity presents 'a significant challenge'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/11/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Rising levels of childhood obesity is a concerning trend that could leave youngsters increasing their risk of long-term health problems.
This is the finding of a new report from the Growing Up in Ireland study that found 26 per cent of nine-year-olds in the country have a body mass index (BMI) outside the healthy range - with seven per cent defined as obese.
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Many children 'at risk of back pain from school bags'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 18/10/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Carrying school bags that are too heavy could be leading many school children to experience pain in their back.
This is according to chief executive of BackCare Sean McDougall, who stated that because kids' bones are still relatively soft as they are still growing, youngsters should ideally be carrying no more than ten per cent of their body weight over their shoulders.
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Many pupils 'would rather squint' than wear glasses
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 04/10/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
A large number of school pupils may be struggling to read what is on the board if they do not wish to admit to wearing glasses.
According to a survey conducted by Vision Express, 16 per cent of students say they would rather squint than put on corrective lenses in the classroom, the Evening Herald reports.
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Celebrities take part in anti-bullying campaign
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 09/08/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Several famous faces will take part in a new poster campaign highlighting the effect bullying can have on the lives of young people.
Organised by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), the drive is being run with the help of Westlife member and ambassador for the charity Mark Feehilly.
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HPV vaccination programme to be extended
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/05/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Girls in post-primary schools across the country will be offered the HPV vaccination from September as part of a new drive to reduce levels of cervical cancer.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) will write to all schools in Ireland to inform them of the programme, which will be available to female students entering sixth year in September 2011.
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School exercise targets "unrealistic"
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/05/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has stated that a recommendation that schools provide children with 30 minutes of exercise each day is unworkable.
He told the Dail that the length of the school day and the pressure to focus on other areas of the curriculum means that it is "unrealistic" to set a daily requirement for PE, the Irish Times reports.
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Ensuring protection for school kids 'is paramount'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/04/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Making sure kids in primary and secondary schools are protected is very important, Ireland's Minister for Children has said.
Frances Fitzgerald told the Irish Times that it is a priority for the government to introduce child protection guidelines under its Children First programme.
These are intended to help people report suspicions of child abuse to authorities and to provide better protection for youngsters in the country.
She emphasised the importance of having a new system, saying the current procedure "hasn't worked too well to date despite various efforts".
While the Health and Safety Executive used to be responsible for child protection, the Minister wants another separate agency to do this.
Earlier this month, Ms Fitzgerald launched a consultation, asking 1.4 million kids what they thought about their childhood and what changes they would make to it.
She said this will help shape the new body so that it is "dedicated to the safety of our children".
Written by Donal Walsh
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Parents given advice on looking out for depression
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 05/04/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents have been told how to spot signs of depression among their secondary school kids.
Dr Foluso Ademola and Dr Declan Sheerin wrote an article for the Irish Medical Times on diagnosing the mental illness among teenagers.
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Consultation launched to raise standards of child protection
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/04/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
A consultation has been launched that is intended to boost the protection of school kids in Ireland.
Earlier this week, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald revealed that an organisation needs to be created that is solely dedicated to making sure children are protected at all times.
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Dietician advice should be available for school kids, say some parents
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/03/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Kids in primary and secondary schools should have access to a dietician, many parents in Ireland believe.
Quinn Healthcare released findings from a survey showing that 77 per cent of Irish adults think dietician visits should be compulsory for children who are overweight, Irish Health reports.
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Primary school children 'must not be rewarded with food'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 02/03/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Primary school children should not be rewarded with unhealthy food for good behaviour, an expert has said.
According to Tam Fry, National Obesity Forum board member and chair for the Child Growth Foundation in the UK, parents must not offer treats to their youngsters in return for them behaving well, as this results in "bad messages about healthy eating" being transmitted to children.
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Braces 'work best for school kids'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/02/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Primary and secondary school pupils who have teeth that stick out have been advised to get braces.
Dr Nigel Harradine, chairman of the British Orthodontic Society, answered a query in the Irish Independent from a parent about what they should do as their ten-year-old daughter does not want to wear a brace.
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Is a vegetarian diet harmful for school kids?
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 09/02/2011.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The question of whether making primary and secondary school children stick to a vegetarian diet is healthy has been discussed.
A report in the Irish Independent looked at parents' concerns that their kids may not get enough nutrients if they do not feed them meat products.
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Study finds bullying rising in Irish schools
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/12/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Female physical bullying is on the rise in schools in Ireland, according to a new report.
Research by anti-bullying expert Dr Mona O'Moore from Trinity College, Dublin, found that one in five girls in primary schools have been attacked, reports the Irish Independent.
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School rugby programme launches
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The Irish government is trying to encourage children to be healthy by the time they go off to secondary school with the introduction of a new sports programme.
Play Rugby is an initiative that launched earlier this week in an attempt to help kids get involved in sport.
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Parents warned about childhood infections
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents have been warned about how to cope with the infections children are likely to pick up from their friends at primary or secondary schools.
According to Sheila Wayman, writing for the Irish Times, there are many embarrassing bugs that kids can catch from their friends.
She said that head lice, worms or scabies were examples of infections that are likely to be developed and told parents that these can easily be treated by going to a pharmacist.
From November 1st 2010, this process will become easier after private consultation areas in all chemists will be obliged by the law in Ireland.
Ms Wayman said: "Be assured that if there is any doubt about the problem or its severity, a pharmacist will advise you to bring the child to the doctor."
She suggested parents be aware of the symptoms for worms, hand, foot and mouth and slapped-cheek disease, as well as more common infections such as warts.
Health information website Net Doctor also named common childhood diseases including chickenpox, whooping cough and scarlet fever as illnesses that parents should be on the lookout for.
Written by Donal Walsh
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Second round of TB tests ordered
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 17/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents of primary and secondary school pupils in Cork will be relieved to hear that there is to be a second round of tuberculosis (TB) screenings following the recent outbreak of the disease.
Yesterday (September 16th 2010), the Health Service Executive (HSE) announced that parents and staff have been told there will be a second series of tests for nearly 200 pupils at Ballingtemple in Cork.
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Secondary school students warned about gaining weight in college
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Secondary school students who are heading to college next year have been advised to make sure they continue to eat healthily so that they do not gain weight.
Orla Tinsley, writing for the Irish Times, suggested that college students are likely to embark on an unhealthy diet as they indulge in takeaways and ready meals.
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More staff hired for cervical vaccination programme
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 14/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has announced it will hire more staff to help with the cervical vaccination programme in secondary schools.
More than 100 extra employees, including 27 senior medical officers and 88 nurses, will be hired to ensure girls in second-level schools receive their inoculations this term, the Irish Times reported.
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Parents advised to avoid sugary cereals to give kids good start
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents of primary and secondary school children have been advised against giving their kids sugary cereals for breakfast.
According to Damien Maher, writing for The Irish Independent, the old adage "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is true.
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Children 'should learn how to talk about cyber-bullying'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Primary and secondary school children have been encouraged to talk about cyber-bullies so that they do not face problems of depression.
Carphone Warehouse has teamed up with Professor Mona O'Moore of the Anti-Bullying Centre in Trinity College to alert parents to the growing problem of cyber-bullying.
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Labour party calls for PE to be Leaving Certificate subject
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 03/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Secondary school pupils might be able to take PE as a Leaving Certificate subject if the Labour party's proposals are accepted.
Labour's new policy document A Level Playing Field stated that each educational facility should give students two hours of PE lessons every week.
PE should also be available on the Leaving Certificate curriculum, allowing students to gain points towards higher education entry levels, the party suggested.
Labour's spokeswoman on sport Mary Upton said that this would help encourage sport and activities among young people.
She added that while 725 million euros had been spent on the sports' capital programme, more money should be ploughed into physical education facilities in Irish schools.
Fitness and obesity consultant Elaine Sawetz reiterated the importance to engage in physical activities.
She said that through sport, "children are less likely to develop diabetes or other diseases".
Written by Donal Walsh
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TB school set to reopen for new term
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/09/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
A primary school in Cork is set to reopen next week after suffering an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) cases over the summer break.
Ballintemple National School will open its doors on Monday September 6th 2010 after five active and 20 latent cases of the disease were confirmed over the last few weeks, the RTE reported.
More than 120 pupils at the educational facility and member of staff have been tested by the Health Service Executive (HSE), while 100 more are waiting to be screened via a skin test and chest X-ray before the school term begins.
A HSE public consultant reassured parents that students are not at risk from contracting the disease as every pupil returning to school, either with active or latent TB, is currently not infectious.
The outbreak was confirmed after one child was diagnosed one month after the holidays began.
Speaking with the Irish Times, a doctor had previously suggested that the disease is beginning to return to Ireland, despite being in decline for 50 years.
Posted by Donal Walsh
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Epilepsy healthcare 'needs to improve'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 26/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents with primary or secondary school children with epilepsy have been informed that their kids could be receiving inadequate healthcare treatment.
According to a recent report called Fostering Epilepsy Care In Europe produced by the World Health Organisation, the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy, thousands of people around the continent are not receiving good quality treatment of their illness.
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Primary school children to receive high-visibility vest
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 25/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Children who are set to start primary school next month will receive a high-visibility vest, it has been confirmed.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the ESB will distribute 80,000 vests to junior infants as part of the Back to School road safety campaign.
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TB outbreak worries parents in Ireland
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents of primary and secondary school children in Ireland are likely to be concerned after an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) was confirmed.
Three school children from Ballintemple National School in Cork were diagnosed in the last three weeks, which has led to public health screenings being held for more than 220 young people and teachers at St Finbarr's Hospital.
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Parents advised how to deal with teenage depression
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents have been told how to deal with signs that their secondary school child is depressed.
According to David Coleman, writing for the Irish Independent, families should look out for their teenager acting withdrawn from their friends or relatives as one of the first indications that their child could be suffering from the mental illness.
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Exam results 'putting children's health at risk'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 18/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Many children in secondary schools are likely to have put their health at risk waiting for their Leaving Certificate results.
The grades, which were released today (August 18th 2010), have been said to be the cause of thousands of sixth-year pupils suffering from sleepless nights and stress.
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School girls 'not interested in sport'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Girls at secondary schools in Ireland are not as interested in sport as boys, a report is expected to reveal.
According to the Irish Times, a study published by the Irish Sports Council to be released in the autumn is likely to show that there is significant difference between interest in sports shown by girls and boys.
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Obese mothers put children's health at risk during pregnancy
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 02/08/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Recent studies have shown that there has been an increase in the number of women who are overweight when pregnant.
Earlier this week, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) advised mothers-to-be to lose weight in order to protect their children's health.
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Majority of girls 'opting for cervical cancer jab'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/07/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The majority of teenage girls that were offered the cervical cancer vaccine during the last school term accepted it.
Figures from the Health Executive Service show there has been a take-up rate of around 80 per cent, the Irish Independent reports.
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Competitive sports for school kids 'could build life skills'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/07/2010.Tags: Primary School News Kids Health
Getting children involved in competitive sports at school could help them to build skills which they will need later in life.
This is according to Steve Grainger, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust (YST), who pointed out getting involved in team sports is likely to make kids feel better about themselves and allow them to work more effectively as a team by building their confidence.
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Fruit and fish diets 'can protect kids from asthma'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 07/06/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents have been advised that providing their children with a diet featuring plenty of fish and fruit can help to protect them against asthma.
A recent international study of 50,000 children published in the medical journal Thorax has suggested that more frequent consumption of healthy produce such as vegetables and seafood is associated with lower lifetime asthma prevalence.
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Children 'should be empowered to make the right decisions about sex'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 27/05/2010.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids Kids Health
Talking to children about sex and relationships will empower them and encourage them to make the right decisions in the future.
This is according to Jeremy Todd, chief executive of Parentline Plus, who said it is important that youngsters get the opportunity to discuss these issues at an age-appropriate level.
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Parents 'give cervical cancer jab the green light'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 19/05/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The majority of parents have given their daughters permission to be vaccinated against cervical cancer.
In total, 85 per cent of mothers and fathers have so far given the go-ahead to their children, the Irish Independent reports.
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Exam students offered diet advice
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/05/2010.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids Kids Health
Students sitting Leaving and Junior Certificate exams this year have been urged not to put their health on the back burner.
Writing for the Herald, Simone Kelly noted that like the other organs of the body, the brain needs to be nurtured and fed.
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Parents 'must get creative to encourage healthy eating'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/05/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Encouraging youngsters to eat their greens and fresh fruit can be a difficult task for parents. However, one expert claims this problem can be tackled with a little creativity.
Ian Marber, a nutritionist and founder of the Food Doctor, said that presenting fruit in a way that children find visually appealing "makes sense".
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School bags 'are too heavy'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 05/05/2010.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids Kids Health
Irish school children are still being made to carry bags that exceed government recommendations, it has been revealed.
Writing for the Irish Independent, Michael Lynch, who carried out a study on the issue in 2006, noted that a government working group report in 2008 recommended that 12-year-old pupils carry books weighing no more than 3.7 kg.
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Parents offered eczema advice
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/04/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Parents have been given some tips on how to help their children deal with eczema.
Writing for the Irish Independent, Eilish O'Regan said it can be a tough condition for youngsters to deal with.
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Smoking in cars with children 'should be banned'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 30/03/2010.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids Kids Health
Parents should be banned from smoking in cars with their children.
This is according to Martin Dockrell, director of research and policy at Action on Smoking and Health, who said that since drink driving is banned, it makes sense to outlaw cigarettes behind the wheel.
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Children 'must remember to wash hands regularly'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 17/03/2010.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids Kids Health
Children should be taught the basics of hygiene from a young age in order to limit the spread of illnesses, it has been claimed.
According to writer and broadcaster Dr Carol Cooper, youngsters often forget to wash their hands when they are rushing around at school.
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Children 'should be taught importance of sleep'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/03/2010.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Schoolchildren should be taught that getting a good night's sleep is vital for their wellbeing, it has been claimed.
Jessica Alexander, press officer at The Sleep Council, said it is important that youngsters are aware of the benefits of rest.
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