american academy of pediatrics Archives - Mayo Clinic News Network

Ask the Mayo Mom: Talking to kids about racism

Jennifer O'Hara — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0000

Children learn about racial differences and racial bias from an early age, and parents and caregivers are their first teachers. It's important for parents and other adults to be role models for inclusive behaviors early in the lives of children life to decrease racial bias and improve cultural understanding.

Experts encourage parents and caregivers to get comfortable with having difficult conversations about race and bias.

"It's important for all children to have these discussions, and as an adult in any child's life, everything that you're doing is modeling for them what's okay and isn't okay," says Dr. Emily McTate, a Mayo Clinic pediatric psychologist.

Parents may be surprised to find out that a baby's brain can notice race-based differences as early as 6 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs.

When children have questions about racial differences, it's important to keep a child's developmental stage in mind and tailor age-appropriate messages. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these strategies for helping children understand and deal with racial bias:

Talk to your children and acknowledge that racial differences and bias exist.
Confront your own bias and model how you want your children to respond to others who may be different than them.
Encourage your children to challenge racial stereotypes and racial bias by being kind and compassionate when interacting with people of all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups.

Another important step is teaching kids to be critical consumers of media.

"I always think about all the moments, whether you're reading books together or watching animated movies together, whatever it is, and hit the pause button and talk about what's going on," says Dr. Daniel Hilliker, a Mayo Clinic pediatric psychologist. "Why is this person being represented in this fashion? And that can kind of open up the conversation about exploring some different perspectives."

On this Ask the Mayo Mom edition of the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, host Dr. Angela Mattke is joined by Dr. McTate and Dr. Hilliker for a discussion on talking to kids about racism.

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Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Why discussing racism with children matters

Jennifer O'Hara — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:57:38 +0000

Children are always watching and learning behaviors from those around them, and parents are usually a child's first role model. But when it comes to discussing racism with children, parents and caregivers may wonder how to begin the conversation about race and bias, and what is age-appropriate to discuss with their children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these three strategies for helping children understand and deal with racial bias:

Talk to your children and acknowledge that racial differences and bias exist.
Confront your own bias and model how you want your children to respond to others who may be different than them.
Encourage your children to challenge racial stereotypes and racial bias by being kind and compassionate when interacting with people of all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups.

This edition of the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, which focuses on the importance of discussing racism with children, features an #AsktheMayoMom episode hosted by Dr. Angela Mattke, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Children's Center. Joining Dr. Mattke is Dr. Nusheen Ammeenuddin, chair of Diversity and Inclusion for Mayo Clinic Health System and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Communications and Media.

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Remember the learning power of play

Dana Sparks — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 20:00:17 +0000

"Children's play is not frivolous, and the importance of playful learning for children cannot be overemphasized." That's according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a clinical report that says if you want creative, curious, healthier children with 21st-century skills, then let them play. The report says children also need play to help "buffer toxic stress, build parental relationships and improve executive functioning."

"The AAP’s new report should remind parents and school officials what they already knew in their hearts — that children need time, space, and permission for unstructured play," says Dr. Robert Jacobson, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician. "Parents need not feel guilty for failing to schedule their children’s recreation. Indeed, parents should instead plan for, and leave time every day for, this unstructured, free form recreation," says Dr. Jacobson.

"The AAP’s new report should remind parents and school officials what they already knew in their hearts — that children need time, space, and permission for unstructured play." ─ Dr. Robert Jacobson

Dr. Anglea Mattke, also a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, agrees. “Playing is learning," says Dr. Mattke."There are pressures both external and internal that children need to be sitting in a preschool classroom working on worksheets or they will fall behind." Dr. Mattke says that from an early age the best ways children learn is through playing, exploring, using their imaginations, and working through social situations that come up with other children in these play settings. "Unstructured play allows them to develop the process of learning rather than just focusing on content," she says.

To make this happen, though, Dr. Jacobson says the electronic screens have to be turned off and unavailable. "Creating time, space and permission for play in the modern world requires a form of parental supervision that may not come naturally for a working parent," adds Dr. Jacobson.

The report points to research that found that only about half of kids get some daily playtime outside with a parent, in part because of parents working and digital distractions.

"We're recommending that health care providers write a prescription for play because it's so important," says Dr. Michael Yogman, lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics report. "The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children" is online and will be published in the September edition of Pediatrics.

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Mayo Clinic Radio: Quality versus quantity when it comes to calories

Jennifer O'Hara — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:00:38 +0000

When it comes to dieting, the focus often has been on eating fewer calories as the key to losing weight. But a new study, published recently in JAMA, found that what you are eating is an important factor in weight loss. The study found that people who cut back on added sugar, refined grains and highly processed foods, while concentrating on eating plenty of vegetables and whole foods — without worrying about counting calories or limiting portion sizes — lost significant amounts of weight over the course of a year. Researchers hope that a focus on quality versus quantity when it comes to calories may be a way to combat the obesity epidemic in America.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Donald Hensrud, a public health and general preventive medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss dieting and healthy food choices. Also on the program, Dr. Janna Gewirtz O'Brien, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic, will share new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on screening teenagers for depression. And Dr. Summer Allen, a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, will explain the different types of over-the-counter pain medications.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

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Mayo Clinic Radio: Counting calories / teen depression screening / over-the-counter pain medications

Jennifer O'Hara — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:23:06 +0000

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show? Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

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Mayo Clinic Radio: Media recommendations for children

Jennifer O'Hara — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:00:58 +0000

Today's generation of children is growing up immersed in media. From TV and video games to smartphones and social media, there’s the possibility of constant media exposure. Last fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced new recommendations for children’s media use, including how to make a family media use plan.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic, will explain the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations on media and children. Dr. Ameenuddin also will discuss the importance of the measles vaccine. Also on the program, Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, will debunk myths about statins. And Dr. Timothy Curry, a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist, will explain how awareness under anesthesia can happen.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

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Mayo Clinic Radio: Media recommendations for children / statins / awareness under anesthesia

Jennifer O'Hara — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:58:05 +0000

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show? Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Media recommendations for children / statins / awareness under anesthesia appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

No fruit juice for babies younger than 1

Dana Sparks — Mon, 22 May 2017 21:05:38 +0000

"We tell our patients we want children to eat their fruit ─ not drink it," says Dr. Angela Mattke, a pediatrician with Mayo Clinic Children's Center. Dr. Mattke is responding to new recommendations that babies under 1 should not drink fruit juice. She supports the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations published today in Pediatrics.

With rates of childhood obesity and dental health problems increasing, the American Academy of Pediatrics panel decided to revisit the issue of children under 1 drinking sugary juices. Dr. Mattke says, "The general conversation I've always had with patients is, we don't want fruit juice to replace actual fruit. As a practice, we encourage minimizing use of fruit juice for all ages, but especially babies. Today's recommendations just reinforce that."

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommendations include:

Intake of juice should be limited to, at most, 4 ounces daily for toddlers age 1-3. For children age 4-6, fruit juice should be restricted to 4 to 6 ounces daily; and for children ages 7-18, juice intake should be limited to 8 ounces or 1 cup of the recommended 2 to 2 ½ cups of fruit servings per day.
Toddlers should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable “sippy cups” that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day. The excessive exposure of the teeth to carbohydrates can lead to tooth decay, as well. Toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime.
Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and be educated about the benefits of the fruit as compared with juice, which lacks dietary fiber and may contribute to excessive weight gain.
Human milk or infant formula is sufficient for infants, and low-fat/nonfat milk and water are sufficient for older children.
Consumption of unpasteurized juice products should be strongly discouraged for children of all ages.
Children who take specific forms of medication should not be given grapefruit juice, which can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness. In addition, fruit juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.

Follow @DrAngelaMattke #AskTheMayoMom

Dr. Mattke adds, "Kids who tend to drink more sweetened beverages, specifically those who use a bottle or a sippy cup throughout the day, are constantly bathing their teeth in sugars and carbohydrates." Also, Dr. Mattke says the dietary fiber that comes from eating fruits is extremely important for children of all ages.

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Mayo Clinic Radio: Treating Crohn’s disease

Jennifer O'Hara — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 12:00:52 +0000

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health estimate that more than half a million people in the U.S. have Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that most often begins gradually but can worsen over time. Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss. On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, learn about treating Crohn’s disease from Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Dr. Edward Loftus Jr. Also on the program, endocrinologist Dr. William Young Jr. will explain why the pituitary gland is known as the “master gland," and pediatrician Dr. Esther Krych will share the latest infant sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Listen to the program on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9:05 a.m. CST, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Treating Crohn’s disease appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic Radio: Crohn’s disease / pituitary gland / infant sleep recommendations

Jennifer O'Hara — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 17:58:52 +0000

Listen to the program on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9:05 a.m. CST.

Miss the show? Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Crohn’s disease / pituitary gland / infant sleep recommendations appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.