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NEWS, VOICES, TRENDS FEBRUARY 2007 | FAMILY TECH | Fast Fact For the new year, KidsHealth.org, the most visited children’s health website, has come up with its second annual “10 Kids’ Health Issues to Watch.” No. 1 is “Health Care 2.0,” meaning that as technology advances, information is derived from a growing array of media outlets – some good, some not so good. For the whole list: KidsHealth.org/parent/positive/family/issues_2007.html AUTISM FUNDS UC Riverside scores a TD with Doug Flutie UC Riverside will receive $10,000 this month to support scholarships for those teachers working with autistic children. The money comes from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. The university is one of 26 projects in eight states as well as Ontario, Canada, that will divide up more than $350,000. UCR’s graduate students in special education will benefit. A SEARCH Center will be established to better serve low-income and Spanish-speaking families of autistic children in Riverside County. The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. was established in 1998 by famous quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their son, Doug, who was diagnosed with autism at 3. According to the foundation, “Autism is a neurological disorder that impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. It affects more than 1.5 million people in the United States.” Fat bellies Obesity lands front and center You really don’t want your dad’s protruding belly, but more children than ever are developing fat around the middle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the University of Rochester School of Medicine/New York, waistlines of America’s increasingly obese children have expanded drastically since 1988. Analyzing statistics of children ages 2-19, researchers point out that this kind of obesity is a predictor of “cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes,” as reported in November by the Washington Times. The study was first published in the journal Pediatrics and found that the prevalence of obesity is rising most quickly among the youngest set – ages 2-5. Researchers are hopeful that parents will identify obesity in the early stages and correct the diet of their children and develop a family fitness plan that works long term. Family finance Teach high rollers (the kids) true value In a society where the evolution of video I-Pods and Blackberries has become the norm, our nation’s children are in a tough spot. They see their favorite sports and movie stars and even the kid next door with all the best toys, and naturally think the more toys, the better. The JumpStart Coalition projected that children ages 4-12 will spend $51.8 billion in 2006. Teenage Research Unlimited reports that teens ages 12-19 spent $159 billion in 2005, which is nearly twice as large as the estimated gross domestic product of Romania in 2005, according to the International Monetary Fund. A 2003 survey commissioned by Northwestern Mutual found that 90% of young people learn everything they know about money at home. This is a scary thought considering a similar survey found that nearly half of parents did not feel they are good financial role models for their children. As parents, it is our responsibility to encourage our children to improve their personal financial literacy and learn to make smart choices with money. Schools, increasingly relied upon to be the sole source of learning for our kids, have few programs that teach basic money management. This provides both a challenge and an opportunity. Together as a community, we must dedicate ourselves to educating our kids on the importance of using money wisely. Parents – if you have financial insecurities, talk with a friend who can help, or better yet, a financial professional. National organizations like America Saves consist of nonprofit, corporate and government organizations around the country and even here in Orange County that offer valuable resources to us and our kids in providing the fundamentals of money management. The Internet also provides great tools for kids, parents and educators such as themint.org, a site designed to help kids learn the basics of using money wisely. – By Paul Castillo; he is a financial representative with The Waltos Group of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (NMFN). NMFN is the marketing name for the sales and distribution arm of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, Wis. Information in Orange County: 949.863.5800, or paul.castillo@nmfn.com – Reported and compiled by Inland Empire Family Magazine staff |
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