Back-To-School Health Experts From Packard Children`s Hospital

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Pediatric and adolescent health and safety experts say it`s no surprise that
starting or returning to school creates a backpack full of concerns for kids and
their parents. It`s a major time of adjustment. That`s why the experts at Lucile
Packard Children`s Hospital at Stanford have made themselves available for
comment on these and other back-to-school health topics.

Prevent and treat H1N1 influenza…and talk to your kids

The H1N1 flu is on a lot of families` minds. In a new video, Yvonne Maldonado,
MD, chief of infectious disease, has advice for families about how to handle
this threat. "While most cases of H1N1 flu have been mild, parents should call
their health-care provider if they're worried about flu symptoms such as fever,
coughing, sneezing, vomiting and diarrhea," Maldonado said. Additionally,
Maldonado advised that kids and adults with flu symptoms should not go to school
or work and pregnant women should be vigilant about avoiding flu exposure while
being certain to report any symptoms to their physicians. Frequent hand-washing
and other common-sense basics are still important, too. In a related video,
Sharon Williams, PhD, director of outpatient services in child and adolescent
psychiatry, offers these tips for talking to your kids about the flu.

Healthy eating in a fast-food world

Julie Matel, MS, dietician and nutritionist at Packard Children`s, suggests
recruiting young kids for lunchbox duty. "Involving kids in making their lunch
may help lunches get eaten," said Matel, who suggests preparing the night before
to reduce morning craziness. "Parents have to be creative, too," she said.
"Nutritious food can be made to sound like fun; for example, try making things
like `ants on a log,` which is a celery stick covered with peanut butter and
raisins."

Lunchtime peer pressure

"For older kids, lunch is a very social time with a lot of peer pressure," said
Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH, and director of advocacy at the hospital`s Center for
Healthy Weight. "That means that taking a healthy lunch to school may be a bit
uncool for some." So what`s a parent to do if their child`s a charter member of
our fast-food nation? Chamberlain offered two tips. "First, families need to
discuss how kids spend discretionary money at school. Too many times they'll
choose to spend it in vending machines. If this happens, try to encourage
healthier choices such as water or yogurt," advised Chamberlain. "Second, if
fast-food is the only option, parents should talk about creative ways to make
that experience less detrimental. For instance, kids can keep portion sizes in
mind by not choosing to supersize their meal. Plus, they can choose lower-fat
and less harmful menu items."

Sleep without a peep

As a father of two school-age children, Rafael Pelayo, MD, pediatric sleep
expert, has both a personal and professional interest in helping kids get a good
night`s sleep. "A bedtime routine is as important for a 2-year-old as it is for
a 12-year-old or a 35-year-old. This means having two to three relaxing
activities to help you wind down before falling asleep." The best? "A National
Sleep Foundation poll found that children who read just prior to bed or were
read to slept better and longer," said Pelayo, who has worked with the
Foundation on many of its sleep improvement initiatives.

Don`t forget exercise

Some schools don`t have PE classes and not every kid is on a school sports team.
"Parents can incorporate exercise in other ways," said Dana Weintraub, MD, a
clinical instructor at Packard Children`s. "For instance, instead of having
children take the school bus, try starting a `walking school bus`  parents or
other adults walk groups of children to school together." Weintraub also said
parents should be proactive. "Contact your child`s school, school district or
health care provider to find out about after school programs that include
physical activity," Weintraub said, adding that "Many also offer additional
benefits such as academic assistance."

About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

Ranked as one of the nation's best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World
Report, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 312-bed hospital
devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and
obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford
University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally,
regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services,
from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious
illness and injury. For more information, visit www.lpch.org.

Lucile Packard Children`s Hospital
Robert Dicks, 650-497-8364
rdicks@lpch.org
Todd Kleinheinz, 650-725-9666
tkleinheinz@lpch.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009