Vaccines are necessary — and effective, says Maria Tupas, M.D., medical director of the CHOC Primary Care Clinics. “For more than 50 years, vaccines have saved the lives of millions of children,” she says. “Most childhood vaccines are 90 percent to 99 percent effective in preventing disease. And if a vaccinated child does get the disease, the symptoms are usually far less serious.”

Dr. Tupas explains that the alleged link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been vigorously studied and disproved by extensive and well controlled studies, including those by the Institute of Medicine and Centers for Disease Control.  Current research on autism points to multiple factors, including the possibility of a genetic component or exposure to toxins or viruses during pregnancy. The increase in autism diagnoses may be at least partially attributed to pediatricians simply becoming better at recognizing symptoms at earlier ages.

As children with autism spectrum disorders benefit from early intervention and behavior modification, Dr. Tupas advises parents concerned about possible symptoms to contact their pediatrician.

For more information on this critical topic, check out this Kids Health article with Dr. Tupas: http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&pub=KH&aid=450

For more information – including a helmet safety sheet you can share with your kids – please go to our CHOC Health Library: 
http://www.choc.org/community/index.cfm?id=P00366

Freck says pleasurable associations with shopping, food preparation and family meals help children develop healthy dietary habits for life.

National Nutrition Month in March, is a great time for reinforcing healthy eating habits. To help get your kids started, here are a few yummy, healthy snacks recommended by the American Dietetic Association.

• Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
• Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.
• Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.
• Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.
• Toss dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in instant oatmeal.
• Sandwich cut-outs: Make a sandwich on a whole grain bread. Cut out your favorite shape using a big cookie cutter.
• Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches.
• Stuff a whole grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
• Spread peanut butter on apple slices.

For more nutrition tips from our CHOC expert, click here:
http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&aid=195

These findings were released the same week as the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to reduce the rates of childhood obesity in the United States. The initiative includes expanding efforts to make schools healthy environments for all children, increasing children’s physical activity, improving the affordability and accessibility of foods, and empowering consumers to make healthier choices.

As a fierce advocate for children, CHOC Children’s has remained a leader in the community in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. To read more about obesity and other helpful tips from the experts at CHOC, click here:

http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&pub=KH&aid=240

http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&aid=449

To learn more about CHOC’s programs and services, click here: http://www.choc.org/services/
Or, visit www.choc.org to browse CHOC’s Health Library.

For more information, click on this link: http://www.choc.com/chocnight/ Be sure to type in Promo code “CHOC.”

When the moment is right, calmly discuss news about unemployment or belt-tightening and any concerns with your children. Make sure your conversation is age-appropriate and light. Here are some tips to consider when talking to your kids about money issues:

• Keep talking! If economic problems continue, children may need periodic updates about what’s happening.
• Listen to your children’s concerns.
• Reassure children that it is perfectly normal to feel anxious about current economic troubles.
• Emphasize that you are actively addressing the family’s financial situation.
• Use job loss to teach children about the wisdom of saving money.
• Accentuate the positive, including the strength of your family’s love.

For more tips on this timely topic, click here: http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&pub=KH&aid=513

Check out this link http://www.choc.org/specialties/index.cfm?id=P00506 for all you need to know about the H1N1 and seasonal flu, including symptoms, when to seek treatment, and a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the latest updates.

For those of you who have an active young person at home, did you know there are certain symptoms that can suggest that your child or teen has a heart problem that needs a doctor’s attention? This is especially true if symptoms occur during sports or other activities.

Click below for warning signs parents should know, the most common cause of sudden death in athletes, and much more! http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&pub=KH&aid=512

Just print and decorate our “Be Mine” heart (or make one of your own), then take your photo holding the valentine and send it in. Click here for easy-to-follow instructions: http://www.choc.org/bemine/index.cfm

In recognition of National Heart Month, click here: http://www.choc.org/healthlibrary/topic.cfm?PageID=P01800 to learn more about the CHOC Heart Institute, which brings hope to children with heart disease and their families, by providing state of the art diagnosis and treatment for an entire spectrum of cardiac conditions in newborns to adolescents.

Here are some additional tips:

Make Every Calorie Count
Read Nutrition Labels
• Does your child’s juice contain added sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup?
• How many ounces are in a recommended serving?
• Does one serving fulfill your child’s daily requirement of vitamin C? Not every fruit drink does.
Serve Whole Fruits Instead
• Whole fruit contains the fiber and healthful benefits that juice leaves behind.
• Eating a whole piece of fruit will leave your child feeling less hungry.
Get Milk
• Milk contains calcium for your child’s growing bones.
• Soy milk is an acceptable substitute for cow’s milk.
Can The Soda
• Soda contains phosphoric acid, which leaches calcium from bones and puts your child at risk for osteoporosis.
• Just one 12-ounce soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories, far exceeding your child’s recommended daily limit.