A new report from Connecticut Voices for Children looks at the relationship between youth outcomes and community opportunity:

“The report finds significant disparities in communities across Connecticut based on demographic factors, including population density, residential segregation, and average income. Youth growing up in dense, low-income areas and areas with segregated populations of racial minorities are more likely to struggle, while youth growing up in wealthier rural and suburban areas with predominantly white residents have more positive outcomes. These community characteristics correlate with factors that may negatively impact youth throughout their lives: teen birth rates, youth disconnection, and juvenile arrests.” However, “…by examining outliers among otherwise similar communities, this report identifies successful policies and practices to improve these youth outcomes.”

A recent study set for publication in the April edition of Pediatrics analyzed data from 524,534 children born in Western Australia between 1990-2010 and found that children with intellectual disability, mental and behavioral health problems, and conduct disorder were more likely to be maltreated or neglected than their typically developing counterparts. While these findings come from Australia, they are consistent with similar studies completed internationally. This article highlights concerns about the rights and needs of children with developmental disabilities, and the need to advocate for their well being.

UConn KIDS seeks to do just that through our ongoing research into atypically developing children. To further our goal, we will also be attending the LEARN Disability Summit at Mohegan Sun on March 11, and will be sharing a table with UConn’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

If you’re interested in getting more involved in advocating for the rights and needs of children with developmental disabilities, be sure to attend the upcoming CT Council for Disabilities public forum on March 14 and Autism Awareness Day at the State Capitol on April 12!

Visit HealthyChildren.Org to read about the research.

Early life diet plays a large role in prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood, as well as healthy eating preferences later in life. A new report was released this month on guidelines for promoting healthy eating in infants and toddlers; it is an excellent resource for parents!

Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Young Toddlers: A Responsive Parenting Approach

 

This study, from UConn professor emerita Jane Goldman, finds that while healthy foods are depicted in most children’s books, unhealthy foods are more likely to be depicted in a positive way, as a treat, or used to make someone feel better – does that send the wrong message to children?

Read about children’s books images of food.

A study completed by researchers at Arizona State University tracked students over more than a decade to analyze how bullying impacted academic achievement and school engagement. They found that students who were chronically bullied were more likely to suffer academically, highlighting the need for more anti-bullying school programs, as well as parental awareness of bullying.

“Children who suffered chronic levels of bullying during their school years (24 percent of sample) had lower academic achievement, a greater dislike of school and less confidence in their academic abilities. Children who had experienced moderate bullying that increased later in their school years (18 percent) had findings similar to kids who were chronically bullied. However, children who suffered decreasing bullying (26 percent) showed fewer academic effects that were similar to youngsters who had experienced little or no bullying (32 percent), which revealed that some children could recover from bullying if it decreased. Boys were significantly more likely to suffer chronic or increasing bullying than girls.” (American Psychological Association)

Find more information about the study via CNN and the American Psychological Association.

The UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity released a study on December 16, 2016 that analyzed the patterns of youth TV viewership and food advertising to preschoolers, children, and adolescents. Despite no difference in youth’s time spent viewing TV between 2008 and 2012, there was a marked increase in the number of food and beverage advertisements youth were exposed to. Another key finding: Black youth were exposed to more junk food ads than white youth.

The study was published in Pediatric Obesity. You can read about the study in UConn Today.