Pierce Events LLC has been chosen by Cepia and the Martz Agency to manage the Pittsburgh market launch. Zhu Zhu Pets(TM) are the world’s first innovative, realistic, interactive, plush, and artificially intelligent hamsters that talk and move around in their own playsets. Zhu Zhu Pets(TM) include two play modes: nurturing mode where the hamsters coo and purr, and adventure mode where the hamsters explore their habitat with intelligent audio and mechanical responses to various habitat stimuli.

As part of this launch, Pierce Events has partnered with The Salvation Army of Western PA to host a children’s kick off party. “We are so proud to be able to work with the wonderful people at the Salvation Army,” said Shaun Pierce, President of Pierce Events. “Through the generosity of Cepia, children served by the Salvation Army will be some of the first in the country to experience Zhu Zhu pets. It’s our hope that by donating these toys, we will be delivering joy and fun to these children and in a small way support the amazing work done every day through the Salvation Army.”

Cepia was founded in 2002 in St. Louis, Missouri by a senior management team boasting over 100 years of combined history in the toy industry. Cepia’s original management team, comprised mainly of executives from Trendmasters Toy Powerhouse. Cepia’s track record of successfully marketing toys has been fueled by the innovative talent and solid experience of its management team. Ingenuity, creativity, playfulness, and passion are the heart of Cepia and everything it creates. Cepia is especially known for its use of advanced technology, which is employed in such an unobtrusive way that the toys are not only fun to play with, but often viewed as “wonderful” or “magical.”

SOURCE The Salvation Army

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Bursting with the rich flavor of vanilla custard and caramelized sugar, and infused with a tangy cranberry zing, Cranberry Creme Brulee Kefir has only 160 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving. And just like the other 13 flavors of Lifeway Kefir, there are 10 exclusive live and active cultures that work in your body to help build and restore immunity, improve digestion and help fight off pesky cold and flu bugs. Delicious and nutritious, Lifeway Kefir is a perfect way to enjoy holiday flavors guilt-free.

CFO Edward Smolyansky said, “Our hope is that seasonal flavors become an annual tradition for us at Lifeway and something that our customers look forward to each year.”

Julie Smolyansky, CEO commented, “Our Kefir customers have been asking for a special holiday version for years, so we have been working to develop just the right flavor profile.”

Source Lifeway Foods

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It addresses some major issues faced today by the nearly one in eight households across Europe which are caring for a child under the age of 6. More specifically, the study examines the measures taken to favour participation of the most disadvantaged social groups. It is part of the follow-up to the 2006 Commission Communication on Equity and Efficiency in European Education and Training Systems.

The study presents the available cross-national data and examines national policies on early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Europe. It aims to answer the following questions: how is early childhood education and care organised in Europe? What are the benefits? Which policies facilitate access to it for all? It also draws some tentative conclusions as to what might be needed in order to provide effective ECEC.

The data of the study relate to the school year 2006-2007 while the background data from Eurostat mostly refer to 2005-06.
87 % of 4 year olds attend an educational institution in Europe
The European Commission has recently suggested a new benchmark, whereby 90% of 4 year olds should participate in pre-primary education by 2020. In 2006 on average, 87% at this age were already involved in some form of pre-primary education, but national situations vary significantly. Also, the enrolment of 3 year olds in such programmes is a growing trend since 2000 and currently reaches 74% across Europe (10% growth on average with a sharper rise in Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia and Norway for example). All countries in Europe offer some form of early programmes for children before the start of compulsory schooling, yet major discrepancies exist between countries or even regions, in terms of starting age, participation rates and type of ECEC provision available.

Source Eurostat

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The study, reported in BioMed Central’s open access journal, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, will be published on November 6.

A team led by Kristen Copeland, MD, Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, conducted a study of 53 child care providers from 34 child care centers in Cincinnati to examine why physical activity levels may vary across centers. Through a series of focus groups, they found, unexpectedly, that clothing was potentially an important barrier to children’s outdoor physical activity.

Inappropriate clothing included inadequate outdoor clothing, such as a lack of coats and gloves in the wintertime; unsuitable footwear, such as flip flops; and “nice” or expensive outfits that were not to be ruined. The study found that a few children dressed improperly could prevent the entire class from going outside, thus restricting physical activity.

Dr. Copeland noted that in some child care centers, if one child in a class showed up without a coat on a chilly day, the whole class had to stay inside. “Even more surprising to our team was the fact that the child care center staff members said some parents appeared to send children to the centers without coats so they’d have to stay inside,” Dr. Copeland said. “The staff attributed that to parents concerns about their children getting injured or dirty or having a cold that my be exacerbated by cold weather,” she said.

“We were surprised that some teachers reported that they had seen a few parents intentionally take their child’s coat with them to work, so that the child would not be allowed outside.” Teachers attributed these actions to parents’ concerns about their children getting sick if exposed to cold weather, concerns about clothes getting ruined, or their child getting injured, Dr. Copeland explained.

The study also revealed that clothing choices were a significant source of conflict between parents and child care providers. Caregivers suggested several reasons why parents may dress their child inappropriately, including forgetfulness, a rushed morning routine, limited income to buy clothes, a child’s preference for a favorite item, and parents not understanding the importance of outdoor play.
“The study suggests that parents may need to be reminded about the importance and benefits of active play for children’s development,” Copeland said. She added that child care centers might consider implementing clear and specific policies regarding the type of clothes permitted at these centers so that children’s active play opportunities aren’t curtailed.

SOURCE Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

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Now, the country’s largest in-school educational theatre company has been invited to perform at the Jump$tart National Educator’s Conference, the first national educator conference devoted entirely to personal financial education. NTC will present Mad About Money on Saturday, November 7, for conference attendees and the media in the ballroom of the Capitol Hilton at 8:30 p.m.

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy was established because the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing. Jump$tart’s objective is to encourage curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience.

Recognizing the same need, NTC created a series of multi-platform financial education programs - utilizing live theatre, the Internet and television shows - to help the nation’s schools teach important concepts around money. While these programs teach very specific curriculum points, they are also funny and entertaining. Performances of Mad About Money for middle schools, Crazy About Credit for high schools and Showdown in Cash Canyon for elementary schools have encouraged students to save a little more, spend a little less, and use credit wisely.

While student and teacher feedback has consistently indicated that the plays make an impact, a recent study by Dr. Lewis Mandell of the University of Washington provides empirical evidence that NTC’s productions are influencing student attitudes on personal finance. Professor Mandell’s research showed that watching the Mad About Money play - and using the student workbooks and Web site aligned with the program - significantly increased a student’s knowledge of personal finance concepts.

“The intervention increased knowledge by more than 13 percent, which was highly significant,” writes Dr. Mandell in his report.
Financial institutions have taken notice. In the past two years, no fewer than eight corporations have sponsored a Mad About Money tour into schools in their service territories including Bank of the West, CoVantage Credit Union, and Wachovia (now Wells Fargo).

“These companies understand that helping educate students is a good thing to do,” says NTC President Ward Eames. “They also understand that doing ‘a good thing’ has a positive impact on their brand image with teachers and parents, as well as with the young people who grow up to be potential customers. It gives companies a chance to be good corporate citizens and smart business people.” State agencies in North Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Iowa have also sponsored NTC financial literacy programs for students in their communities.

SOURCE The National Theatre for Children

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McNeil Pediatrics(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., presented the data at the U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress (Poster 303: Time Course of Treatment Effect of Concerta® [OROS® Methylphenidate] in Children with ADHD).

“Untreated ADHD symptoms can present challenges throughout a child’s day, so new findings on onset and duration of effect are important to understand,” said Matthew Brams*, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist in Houston, Clinical Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and an investigator who participated in one of the studies. “There’s benefit in medication that acts quickly and lasts through the day, providing treatment coverage when a child may need it in the early morning, through the activities of the day and into the early evening hours.”

The results presented today showed significant improvements in attention with CONCERTA® versus placebo as measured by a validated, time-sensitive math test administered throughout the day.

At one hour post-dose, subjects who received CONCERTA® attempted 38 percent more math problems compared with baseline (from 75.8 problems attempted before treatment to 104.4 problems attempted after treatment), while those receiving placebo showed no change from baseline (from 80.6 problems attempted before treatment to 80 problems attempted after treatment).

The results were statistically significant throughout the study’s interim time points, from the first testing point at one hour after dosing (p<0.0001) through to the final assessment at 12.5 hours (p<0.0001). Accuracy, as measured by percentage of problems correct, was similar for both treatment groups and was consistent across the period of observation (placebo, 92.1 percent to 93.5 percent and CONCERTA®, 94.0 percent to 94.3 percent).

SOURCE McNeil Pediatrics(TM)

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Raw carrots, celery, and broccoli were provided either with or without peanut butter for dipping and those not provided peanut butter, did not improve vegetable intake.

“We measured what they ate and were excited to see that even those who reported not eating vegetables, who are the most challenging group, ate a greater variety of vegetables with the peanut butter,” said Dr. Craig Johnston, Instructor at the Behavioral Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, at the USDA-ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center in Houston, Texas who conducted the study.

Vegetable intake has been shown to be beneficial against the development of many chronic diseases, but consumption in adolescents is well below recommended levels and strategies to increase intake in adolescents are limited.

Peanut butter was paired with vegetables in this study, because it is a nutrient-rich comfort food loved by kids and adults alike. In fact, it was well received and readily consumed by the students in this study all of whom are Mexican-American.

The adolescents are part of a treatment group in a successful weight loss program in schools that is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). Though some believe peanut butter would be associated with increased energy intake, the study has demonstrated significant weight loss that is maintained over time.

In the United States, over two-thirds of the nuts eaten are peanuts and peanut butter. Peanut butter provides over 15 key nutrients and is offered in Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) packages because of its protein, nutrient content, and affordability. Numerous studies have also shown that peanuts and peanut butter reduce the risk of chronic disease when eaten in small amounts daily and that they can help in weight management and keeping you satisfied.

Pairing vegetables with peanut butter is an effective, simple strategy for children and adolescents, which helps build positive eating habits and increases vegetable intake. Eating more vegetables with increased variety, by providing them with healthy, nutrient-rich foods like peanut butter may contribute to healthier lifestyles and chronic disease reduction.

The Peanut Institute is a non-profit organization that supports nutrition research and develops educational programs to encourage healthful lifestyles. Learn more about peanuts and health at www.peanut-institute.org

SOURCE The Peanut Institute

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All guests who purchase a Mercury Milan Raffle Ticket, which benefits the Caring for Kids campaign, on November 6, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., will receive a Free Smiley Cookie, courtesy of local Lincoln Mercury dealers. The offer includes one Smiley Cookie per guest.

This year marks the 17th year of partnership for Eat’n Park and Lincoln Mercury, who annually donates a vehicle to the Caring for Kids campaign. The car raffle has generated $1.5 million for local children’s hospitals. This year, one lucky Eat’n Park guest will walk away with a 2010 Mercury Milan vehicle, courtesy of Lincoln Mercury dealers.

Eat’n Park’s Caring for Kids campaign has raised more than $7 million since its inception in 1979, thanks to the energy and dedication of Eat’n Park’s partners, team members and guests who are passionate about the success of this campaign.

According to Jeff Broadhurst, CEO and president, Eat’n Park, “We’re proud to be a part of the communities we serve and want to do our part. A big way we do that is to raise money for our local children’s hospitals to help support the health of the kids in our community. This campaign is really about neighbors helping neighbors in their time of need.”

SOURCE Eat’n Park Restaurants

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Funded through a federal grant secured by Congressman Jim Moran, the new center is a proactive step in providing care to a specialized-needs group of local children who require therapeutic foster homes to overcome crises in their young lives. A citywide public service radio campaign created by KidsPeace through a grant from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation is being launched on dozens of local radio stations and is calling on good-hearted citizens to consider fostering children - especially older children, who are often overlooked and who now make up nearly half of all kids in foster care.

At a special event and open house on Thursday, October 29, from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon the charity will appeal to families in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William County to open their hearts and their homes to local kids in need. More than 100 VIPs and special guests are invited to attend, including Congressman Moran, Rebekah Beck (Education Program Manager, Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia), Greta Rosenzweig (Supervisor of Resource Unit, Alexandria Department of Human Services/ DSS/CWS), Claudia McDowell (Program Manager of Foster Care, Fairfax County Department of Family Services), KidsPeace President and CEO William Isemann, community supporters, foster parents, and foster kids. From 1pm-5pm, KidsPeace will be providing a free training in Falls Church to local social workers on how to recruit and prepare families to take older teens, handle crises, and reduce the numbers of kids “given back.” The session will be led by Pat O’Brien, noted founder of the teen adoption agency, “You Gotta Believe.” To reserve a free spot and get directions, call Alana Marino at 571-403-9260.

Across the nation, the need for foster homes is rapidly increasing as more and more children are removed from their homes and need temporary or permanent alternatives because of abuse, neglect, or other family crises. More than 600,000 children nationwide currently need foster homes, but the number of foster homes falls short of meeting the need. Nearly half are over age 12, and in Virginia 55 percent of foster care children in the state are 13 or older.

“The shortage of foster homes leaves more and more children deprived of the loving care that every child needs and deserves,” said William Isemann, KidsPeace President and CEO. “KidsPeace’s new center in Alexandria will work with families in the region to give the best to kids who have been through the worst.”

SOURCE KidsPeace

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CLW calls on international toy brands to respect their promises to workers and the families that purchase these toys by enforcing better conditions at Merton. “Many workers in this factory are barely older than the children who buy the toys abroad,” states CLW Executive Director, Li Qiang. The report found that Merton hires workers as young as 16 and cooperates with local schools to arrange for student employment.
CLW’s report outlines the following illegal conditions:

Illegal wages: Merton operates on a 6 day/week system of 6 hours and 40 minutes per day. Saturdays in this system are mandatory and paid at half the legal Saturday overtime wage rate, or only $0.71/hour. Workers make only $206-$221/month with overtime, before deductions for room and board

Excessive overtime: Working hours last 11.5 hours daily with overtime, and total monthly overtime is 60 hours, in excess of the legal limit.
Vacation: Workers are illegally denied annual vacation for Spring Festival.

Poor living conditions: Food in the canteen is poor. In the dormitories, beds are falling apart because bugs have destroyed the wooden boards workers sleep on, there is no hot water to shower or electrical outlets to charge phones, and workers are prohibited from airing out their bedding except on weekends.

CLW’s report follows a decade of monitoring conditions at Merton. CLW issued its first report in 2000, when conditions were particularly poor and a number strikes erupted. In 2006, CLW conducted another follow-up investigation after a major strike involving nearly a thousand workers. The new report demonstrates that labor violations persist at the toy manufacturer in spite of major improvement. CLW urges brands to invest in remediation, and improve corporate audit systems that overlook serious labor violations.

SOURCE China Labor Watch

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The Baby Einstein videos seemed the solution to many busy parents. Just leave it on for your babies to watch and they’ll grow to be fine and intelligent like the namesake of the videos. But a New York Times report debunks this belief. Songs and bright colors are not that effective for infants.

When one comes to think of it, the logic behind letting babies watch colorful videos may be counterintuitive to their development especially for their eyes. The American Academy of Pediatrics believe that until a child reaches two years old, they should not watch television. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood points to a study which found a correlation between early television watching and low attention spans.

This has intense ramifications especially for the credibility of the videos. Lawsuits are waiting if cases of deceptive advertisements are hurled towards the makers of Baby Einstein videos.

This development is important in emphasizing that parents should spend as much quality time as they can with their babies.

Source: New York Times

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“We don’t want anyone to go out trick-or-treating and come home sick,” said Sharon Stanley, Chief Nurse of the American Red Cross. “You can follow these special tips to try to have a flu-free Halloween:”

* If your child is sick, keep them at home. This will be disappointing to your young one, but your neighbors and community are counting on you to hold the line on transmission of this virus.
* Remind kids to keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs away. Carry that hand sanitizer with you or have it near your candy dispensing area.
* If you are giving out candy, hand it out or scoop it. Instead of a bowl of candy, consider handing out small, individually wrapped bags of treats.
* Throw away any unwrapped candy and inspect the rest for choking hazards and tampering.

To help prevent other dangers, take the following steps for a safer Halloween:

* Use flame-resistant costumes.
* Plan your route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children as they make their way around the neighborhood.
* Make sure the trick-or-treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing to be seen.
* Visit only the homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door — never go inside.
* Instead of masks which can cover your eyes and make it hard to see, use face makeup.
* Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.

Source Red Cross

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The national survey, released today, signals the breadth of parents’ support for changes to make schools healthier places–and their willingness to help make those changes happen. In fact, nearly eight in 10 parents are ready to get more involved to create a healthier environment in their local schools.

Conducted for the Alliance by KRC Research, the survey found that more than 92 percent of parents consider physical education and health education as important as English, math and science instruction. Furthermore, 96 percent of parents believe that physical activity can boost their children’s classroom performance, and virtually all parents (99 percent) recognize that healthy eating also has a positive effect on learning.

The results indicate parents’ increasing awareness of the impact schools can have on student health. The survey also suggests widespread parental concern over the cuts many school systems have made in physical education and recess, often the unfortunate result of budget difficulties and standardized testing pressures.

“Schools across the country are trying their best to provide healthier environments for students, but they are working against significant time and resource constraints,” said Ginny Ehrlich, executive director of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “What is exciting about the results of this survey is that not only do parents understand how important nutrition and physical activity are to the academic success of their children, but they are overwhelmingly willing to step up and be a part of the solution.”

Among the key findings from the online survey of 600 parents of children in grades K-12:

* Parents nearly unanimously agree (98 percent) that their child’s school should offer opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, whether through P.E., activity breaks or recess and afterschool programs.
* Almost as many parents (96 percent) agree that their child’s school should limit access to unhealthy snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages.
* About two-thirds of parents (63 percent) believe schools play a major role in instilling healthy habits in students.

source KRC Research

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As part of the program, ACC will provide LA’s BEST students with reusable water bottles that they can use throughout the day, challenging children to make a habit of carrying their water bottles and drinking more water instead of sugary drinks.

“LA’s BEST welcomes this partnership with the American Chemistry Council. Our campaign encourages waste reduction through the use of reusable water bottles, teaches children about recycling, and educates kids about the health benefits of drinking water. This program will help create long lasting healthy habits for the kids who participate in LA’s BEST,” said Carla Sanger, LA’s BEST President and CEO.

Ninety different LA’s BEST school sites across Los Angeles are participating in the “Go H2O” Campaign from November 2 through November 20. Each child will be challenged to drink one bottle at the beginning of LA’s BEST program each afternoon. At the end of the campaign each participating LA’s BEST program will receive books and sports supplies from ACC.

“LA’s BEST has helped 12,500 students focus on learning and we are very pleased to work with them on this recycling and health-oriented partnership,” said Steve Russell, vice president, plastics, of the American Chemistry Council. “Learning to reduce, reuse and recycle is an important way all of us can make a difference for the environment. We are excited to work with LA’s BEST to get kids involved early.”

SOURCE American Chemistry Council

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According to Dr. Mark Borchert, director, The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, certain toys, such as BB guns, pose a particular danger for young children.

“While a BB gun pellet may not break the skin of a young child, it can puncture his eye very easily. Unfortunately, every Christmas I see young children in our emergency room who have had an eye destroyed by a BB pellet.”

The eye surgeon said parents with young children should avoid toys that shoot projectiles, have parts that fly off or can be shattered into sharp pieces. He added that scissors, rubber bands and deflated balloons — often left out at holiday time — should be collected, since they can be dangerous in the hands of younger children.

It also is a good idea to explain to a child how a new toy is properly used and to promptly throw away broken toys.

The Consumer Products and Safety Commission reports that more than 230,000 toy-related injuries are treated at U.S. emergency rooms annually. Of those injured, approximately one third were under the age of five, and three quarters were under the age of 15. More than 45 percent of injuries were to the head and face.

Dr. Borchert noted that during busy holiday times, young children are at higher risk for injuring their eyes because they often have less adult supervision.

“If you are hosting young children in your home, be sure to get furniture corner protectors for tables, cabinets and windowsills. Young children are prone to falling into low-lying objects,” he added.

If you suspect your child has suffered an eye injury look for these symptoms:

There is blood in the clear part of the eye;
Your child has obvious pain or trouble seeing;
One eye does not move as well as the other;
The eye has an unusual pupil size or shape

Source The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

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But if your child has a food allergy, what’s at the bottom of his or her trick-or-treat bag may be more frightening than any ghost or goblin.

According to a new national survey of 678 moms of children with food allergies - whether to peanuts, tree nuts, milk or eggs, eight out of ten say Halloween causes a great deal of anxiety because they fear their little ones might eat candy containing peanuts or another allergen.(1) Their anxiety is heightened by the fact that food allergies can cause a potentially life-threatening severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is caused when an allergic reaction becomes so severe that a person may stop breathing. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict when a child with food allergies might experience an anaphylactic reaction.

According to the survey, 40 percent of moms said that this time of year makes their children feel alienated because the child can’t fully engage or participate in Halloween activities.(1) The fear is so great that nearly half of these moms said they are thinking about having their child skip trick-or-treating altogether.

In spite of these concerns, less than half of moms surveyed are adequately prepared to handle a life-threatening allergic reaction - 43 percent of moms surveyed said they carry or have immediate access to an epinephrine auto-injector, such as EpiPen® (epinephrine) and EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injectors 0.3/0.15 mg.(1) EpiPen® Auto-Injector is a self-administered medicine that is used in the emergency treatment of a severe allergic reaction, including an anaphylactic reaction.

For those children who do go trick-or-treating, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) offers these helpful tips:

Never Go Alone: Always accompany younger children trick-or-treating and have older children go out with friends.

Inform Others: Make sure all the adults and friends in your group know about your child’s food allergies and what to do in an emergency.

Pack Medication: While out for Halloween, make sure you or your child is carrying an epinephrine auto-injector. Make sure your child’s friends or other adults know how to administer this medication.

Provide Safe Snacks: Provide your close neighbors and even your child’s teacher at school with safe treats or even non-food items like stickers that can be given to your child.

Check the Goodies: Carefully read labels or check the candy company’s Web site to make sure the product doesn’t contain something that can cause an allergic reaction. It’s important to remember that the ingredients of ‘fun size’ candy bars may differ from the regular-size bars.

When in Doubt, Throw It Out: If you can’t find information on a treat’s ingredients or are simply not sure if it’s safe, then throw the candy away or stick it in a treat jar that is out of the reach of the child.

Avoid Snacking: Eating dinner before trick-or-treating might curb your child’s urge to sneak goodies from the bag.

SOURCE Dey Pharma L.P.

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The new site, www.headstarttrainingonline.com, directly serves the needs of the Head Start community. The design and streamlined navigation makes finding enrollment requirements, program descriptions, scholarship opportunities, and Head Start training requirements effortless for Head Start staff and directors. The site is also available in Spanish, at the click of a button.

The current and relevant content provides Head Start staff with valuable information whether they want to register for professional development courses, determine the requirements they must meet or conduct research to determine which certificate program is right for them. The constantly updated testimonial page is evidence of the success CCEI Head Start graduates have and is testament to CCEI’s position as the leader in online child care training.

“CCEI has been providing Head Start programs, teachers, and directors with online professional development that addresses their varying staff development needs. This website matches the professional development options with the specific Head Start regulation that they fulfill, making it quicker and easier for the Head Start community to locate appropriate training to meet their needs,” said Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO.

Source ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

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Therefore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that heart disease patients get vaccinated against the flu each year. Mended Hearts, a national patient support group affiliated with the American Heart Association (AHA), is spreading the word among heart patients to get the flu shot.

“Heart health is always an important consideration among Central Florida residents. However, many people are still not taking basic steps - like getting a flu shot - to help protect themselves. As heart disease patients take stock of their heart health, we want to make sure that getting vaccinated against the flu becomes a priority, beginning this flu season,” said Heathrow resident Mike Philpott, a member of the Orlando chapter of Mended Hearts and a heart disease patient.

Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, MD, MBBS, FACC, FSCAI, FCCP, FACP, an interventional cardiologist at Florida Hospital, has joined Mended Hearts to help spread this important message to the Central Florida community. “It is important for people with heart disease to do all they can to prevent against possible complications,” explained Dr. Jamnadas. “The flu can be very dangerous for heart patients, and it is important that people with heart disease realize how valuable annual flu vaccination is for them.”

This effort is part of the Mended Hearts initiative, ‘I Heart Flu Shots,’ which was first launched in 2007 to help educate people living with heart disease about the importance of getting a seasonal flu shot. The flu can worsen heart disease and can lead to complications including viral or bacterial pneumonia. Getting the flu shot is an important way for heart disease patients to help protect themselves.

The AHA and the American College of Cardiology recommend that the more than 12 million people in the United States with cardiovascular conditions receive an annual flu shot. However, according to recent CDC data, approximately 40 percent of adults living with heart disease did not receive a flu shot in 2007.

Source Mended Hearts

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In “Words from the Wise, Parenting with Proverbs” (published by iUniverse), author Deana Cerniglia presents tips and straightforward, Bible-based information for making this job easier and improving parenting skills for all families.

“Words from the Wise” shows readers how to use the timeless words of wisdom from the Book of Proverbs to tackle tricky parenting tasks, maintain sanity and strengthen a nurturing relationship with the Father. Cerniglia offers solid guidance, tips and strategies to conquer even the most difficult challenges of parenting.

She explains that in order to be a good parent, readers must analyze themselves to avoid passing down any hurts or dysfunctional behaviors learned from their own childhood.

Based on the personal experiences of a mother with three children, this guide uses humor, stories and a friend-to-friend approach that acknowledges all parents make mistakes.

Source iUniverse

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The Company is unveiling CA Internet Security Suite Plus 2010, engineered to work faster and more accurately all while being even easier to use.

CA ISS Plus 2010 provides comprehensive security and protection when accessing the Internet for banking, shopping and spending time online. In fact, CA is so confident in CA ISS Plus 2010’s ability to help protect your online computing experience, it includes an Internet Protection Plan* at no additional cost, providing up to $10,000 in coverage for identity theft or PC damage from a virus.

Redesigned from top to bottom for a better user experience, many elements of the suite including business-strength firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-phishing software have been updated to provide better performance and protection against a wide range of emerging online threats.

CA ISS Plus 2010 is powered by a new core processing technology that helps boost performance and accuracy in detecting malware. Combined with an intuitively designed interface that organizes and simplifies tasks and even provides users with security tips and information sourced from experts at CA’s global Security Advisor team, CA ISS Plus 2010 offers you and your family a simple to use, all-in-one security solution.

Source CA

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– Overall, mothers view seasonal influenza vaccine as safe and effective, yet misperceptions still cause some to avoid this immunization for their children

– Results suggest health care professionals need to play stronger role as vaccine advocates

Novel H1N1 influenza has raised parents’ awareness and concern about seasonal influenza, increasing the likelihood that they will get their children vaccinated compared to past years, according to a recent national survey commissioned by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Yet, while mothers view seasonal flu vaccine as safe and effective, significant barriers remain, causing some to leave their children unprotected.

Based on what they have seen, read and heard about novel H1N1 influenza, nearly half (48 percent) of those surveyed say they are now more concerned about seasonal influenza than in the past. More than half (53 percent) of the parents polled say they are interested in seeking seasonal influenza vaccination for their children this season, while only 35 percent say they got all or some of their children vaccinated regularly in the past years.

This increase is largely because of the heightened attention around H1N1 that has increased parental awareness of how easily seasonal influenza can spread, its potential to kill, and how vulnerable children can be to the illness. About 100 children die from complications of seasonal flu and 20,000 are hospitalized in the U.S. each year.

“Unfortunately, influenza immunization has not been a health priority for American children,” said Carol J. Baker, M.D. Immediate Past President, NFID; Chair, NFID’s Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition; and Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine. “While influenza can be a moderate disease, it also kills healthy children and it is impossible to know which children will die.”

Source National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

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The North East winner from 2008 was Eric Allen from St Oswald’s Primary School in Durham and time is running out for schools to get this year’s top child education entry in.

The 2009 competition is even bigger and better. Twelve regional winners from across the UK will receive GBP500 worth of holiday vouchers and each of the 12 schools will be awarded with GBP100 worth of book tokens. All winning regional entrants go forward with a chance to win the UK title, with GBP3,000 available to the winning school for new equipment and a holiday of a lifetime for the crossing patroller.

Brendan Devine, Group Managing Director of Kwik Fit Financial Services said: “We have had some fantastic entries already this year for the competition and time is running out for schools to get involved. There are unsung heroes all over the UK helping our children to and from school safely and I want to put out the message today that it’s not too late for schools across the North East region to nominate!”

Lorraine Kelly, who has been an ambassador for the campaign for the past 2 years, said: “The Lollipop Person of the Year Awards is a real heart-warming way of recognising the wonderful job our lollipop people do every day to make Britain’s roads safer for our children.”

“This year the competition is bigger than ever before, with schools from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland all having the opportunity to show how their lollipop person makes a real difference to their journey to school. We want kids, teachers and parents alike to show their support for their local lollipop person and get voting!”

Source Kwik Fit Insurance

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“Funkoos is now the great equalizer when it comes to making organic clothing affordable. No longer will discerning shoppers have to pay a premium for durable, stylish, organic clothing,” said Aaron Wasserman, Director of Marketing, Funkoos. “When parents touch our products, they’ll feel how soft the fabric is, how it actually breathes as it’s laying against the skin.

“Not only does this line provide the well documented health benefits of 100 percent organic cotton clothing, but the design is playful and easy for parents to manage,” added Wasserman.

“We believe that the superior construction of Funkoos clothing - from the soft, breathable fabric to the practical, fun design - will change the way people shop for baby clothes.”

In addition to designing clothing with pure organic cotton that has been manufactured in factories certified as per the internationally-recognized Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), Funkoos is dedicated to ensuring that all products are manufactured in fair trade work environments. Additionally, the brand is giving back a portion of all revenues through charitable environmental causes.

“At Funkoos, we truly take pride in maintaining completely fair work environments and compensation plans, and are involved with a number of nonprofit organizations, including the internationally recognized One Percent for the Planet.” said Sitwat Shah, Director of Operations, Funkoos.

Source: Funkoos

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On Halloween night there is a significant increase in home fires, burn-related injuries and falls. Most injuries involve flammable costumes and decorations. Home fires are 70 percent more likely to happen on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day than on any other day of the year according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

“October through January experiences the greatest number of structure fires caused by an open flame,” says John Drengenberg, director of Consumer Safety at Underwriters Laboratories. “As parents, we need to make sure we are taking the appropriate safety measures when it comes to decorating our homes and outfitting our children in costumes.”

To help parents recognize potential safety hazards associated with many Halloween activities, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the leading independent product safety organization, is offering the following tips as a guide to ensure loved ones enjoy a safe Halloween season.

Source: Underwriters Laboratories

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Using Wish List, parents and kids together can create a tailored list of toys based not only on what the child wants, but on his or her age, interests and abilities. This helps guide gift-givers to make appropriate toy selections and provides parents and families more input on the gifts their children receive for holidays and birthdays. Wish Lists can now be created, updated and maintained online at Toysrus.com/WishList and in all Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores nationwide.

“At Toys”R”Us, we know that creating wish lists during the holiday season and for other special occasions are among the most memorable experiences a child can have,” said Greg Ahearn, Senior Vice President, Marketing and e-commerce, Toys”R”Us, Inc. “Wish List provides families a fun way to spend time together, and at the same time, gives parents the opportunity to set realistic expectations with their kids about the presents they may receive.”

To begin the Wish List process, parents and caregivers create one master account online or through in-store Registry Centers or Guest Services stations. Once registered, Wish List participants can generate as many Wish Lists as they would like for each of their children, tailoring them for specific occasions, such as birthdays or holidays. Together with their little ones, customers can browse and select products with scanning devices in Toys”R”Us stores or with the click of a button online to create and update a running list.

Customers who create a Wish List for their child can enjoy the following benefits:

Customize a Child’s List with the RIGHT Toys — Wish Lists guide gift-givers to toys that are age-appropriate and suitable for an individual child’s skill level, helping to ensure that a child is not frustrated or bored with a toy.

Set Expectations in Advance of the Big Day — The exercise of building a Wish List can be used as an opportunity to teach kids about the cost of certain products and which items are within budgetary reach, so they are not disappointed if they do not receive a particular toy.

Rely on Expert Advice from The Toy Authority — In making Wish List selections, toy-buyers can consult with the company’s knowledgeable store associates or utilize the Gift Finder application on Toysrus.com for toy suggestions for a child’s Wish List.

Share Wish Lists Easily with Gift-Givers Near and Far — Notifying friends and family of a Wish List is as easy as sending insert cards that include the registrant’s Wish List number. Wish Lists can then be printed in-store at Wish List kiosks, Registry Centers or Guest Services stations. Wish Lists can also be shared via e-mail or through social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Avoid Duplicate Gifts — Once a gift is purchased, it is deducted from the Wish List, just like a gift registry, so kids do not receive more than one of the same gift.

Maintaining a List is Simple — Regardless of where it is created, a Wish List can be updated and maintained in any store or online. And, long after a birthday or holiday has passed, items that have not been purchased remain on a Wish List, in the event that friends and family want to give “just because” presents.

Source Toys R Us

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“My goal is to teach students the importance of taking care of their health. I want them to have fun while doing it, and they’ll also be graded,” says Beth Ivey, a Physical Education teacher at St. Francis de Sales. “More than ever, taking responsibility for your health is a critical subject kids must learn while they’re young.”

With child obesity on the rise, and nearly 12 million children in the U.S. significantly overweight*, improving the health of young Americans is a growing national emergency for powerful influencers like First Lady Michelle Obama. In a recent interview with Women’s Health magazine, Mrs. Obama declared combating childhood obesity as one of her top health-related issues: “We need to educate children in particular about how to live a healthy lifestyle. If we provide kids with [that] foundation, they are much more likely to become healthy adults.”

Also on the roster in the nation’s fight to improving children’s health is former President Bill Clinton and his Alliance for a Healthier Generation where he actively encourages schools, non-profit organizations, and most importantly, parents to step up and act as role models. Clinton’s organization states that today, 1 in 3 children or youth (age 2-19) are either overweight or obese and that number is expected increase by 20 percent over the next five years if the current trends are not reversed.

“This is a real passion project for our company,” says Angela Manzanares, chief fitlosopher of California-based fitlosophy, inc., creators of fitbook(TM) junior. “If we can teach the kiddos when they’re young to make healthy choices, we can play an active part not only in combating the trend in rising childhood obesity, but play a major role in changing the shape of America - literally.” Complete with star stickers, the interactive, fun format also includes a ‘coach guide’ to provide parents and teachers with tips on educating and motivating children. “Our mission is to positively influence kids by offering a fun program that the entire family can partake in.”

The release of fitbook(TM) junior is an extension of its parent product, fitbook(TM), a functional fitness and nutrition journal that educates and supports adults to reach their health goals.

“The simple, colorful layout of fitbook junior is easy enough for kids as young as 5 to understand and use, yet structured and engaging enough for the older kids to want to use it. They set goals, track progress with their star stickers, and earn rewards,” says Lisa Greenwood, a mother and Program Director of Fleet Feet’s Zoomerang Kids Running Club in Connecticut. “I use the grown-up book, and my son and I make our plans together. His goals include running eight laps and eating five new fruits this week, while I’m working on strength training and stretching.”

SOURCE fitlosophy, inc.

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America After 3 PM is the most extensive research on how America’s children are spending their afternoons. It found that the number of children left alone after the school day ends has risen to 15.1 million children (26 percent of school-age children) — an increase of 800,000 children since the 2004 edition of the study.

Thirty percent of middle schoolers (3.7 million kids) are on their own, as are four percent of elementary school children (1.1 million children). At the same time, Americans see afterschool programs as a solution: Nine in 10 adults surveyed agree that there should be “some type of organized activity or place for children and teens to go after school every day that provides opportunities to learn.”

“The bottom line is that more children need — and don’t have — afterschool programs today than five years ago,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “We have increased the number of children in afterschool programs over the last five years, but not enough to keep up with demand. Today in our country, too many parents are unable to enroll their kids in afterschool programs because they’re not available, transportation is unworkable, or they can’t afford the fees. As a nation, we need to increase our efforts to keep up with the rising demand and make sure that afterschool is available to all children who need it. Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families.”

The results of the study were released at a Department of Education event featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in Washington, DC yesterday. “Thinking creatively about non-school hours is important,” Secretary Duncan said to a packed auditorium. “Thank you for helping create the model of what schools should look like.”

Next week, on October 15, the Afterschool Alliance and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund will release survey data from all 50 states.

Source: Afterschool Alliance

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Myth #1. Sitting too close to the TV will damage your child’s eyes.

Fact: “Sitting in front of the TV or a computer screen for four hours may hinder your child’s intellectual development but it will not damage their eyes,” notes Dr. Mark Borchert, division head of The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Nearly half of all kids spend four hours or more per day using computers and electronic devices, according to a recent national survey. Dr. Borchert notes that children can develop blurred vision, headaches and other problems when focusing too long on one object, such as a computer screen. Long video game sessions may have adverse consequences such as reduced social interaction or less time doing homework; however, they will not permanently damage a child’s eyes.

“If a child is sitting too close to the TV or computer screen, it is probably because he needs glasses to see well. Sitting very close to the screen will not cause them to need glasses,” said Dr. Borchert.

To make your child’s computer station more comfortable, make sure the screen is at eye level. Reduce screen glare by using a desk lamp with a dimmer so there isn’t a big contrast between the brightness of the screen and the room. Make sure your child can’t see her own reflection on the screen.

Enforce the 20/20 rule. Have your child take a 20-second break for every 20 minutes of screen time, either by getting up and stretching or by looking out the window.
The concern about TV screens damaging young eyes originated in the 1960s when some early color TV sets were discovered to be emitting high amounts of X-rays. The problem was soon corrected and modern TV monitors, including older tube-type sets and new LCD models, are safe and do not emit any dangerous rays.

Myth #2. Eating lots of carrots will improve a child’s eyesight.

Fact: Carrots do contain Vitamin A, which is a key ingredient in good overall nutrition; however, eating a lot of them will not improve your eyesight. Recent research findings have found that eating foods rich in Lutein, a plant nutrient, may help prevent age-related macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness in older adults. Lutein is a carotenoid, natural pigment, found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, plus various fruits and corn.

“The research is very preliminary, but it does suggest that Lutein can help protect against adults developing macular degeneration. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of green vegetables should be sufficient for most families,” said Dr. Borchert.
Carrots’ reputation as eyesight enhancers is partially due to the fact that Vitamin A sources are helpful in treating night blindness, also called nyctalopia, which can be caused by Vitamin A deficiency.

Myth #3. Only adults can wear contact lenses safely.

Fact: Children of all ages, even infants, can wear contact lenses safely if the correct procedures are followed. Under the age of 10, an adult will need to insert, remove and clean the lens. Many children over 10 can handle the contact lenses (wearing and cleaning) themselves.

According to Dr. Borchert, ophthalmologists may prescribe contact lenses for infants and very young children to enhance vision development when the eyes have very different prescriptions after cataract surgery, corneal scarring or diseases like Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Dr. Borchert said older children could manage their own contact lens care if they are mature and responsible. “If they make their own bed and shower on their own, they can probably safely handle their contact lens.”

He noted that it is not a good idea for elementary school children to wear contact lenses just for cosmetic reasons. Also, all contact lenses should be obtained through a physician, either an ophthalmologist (M.D.) or a doctor of optometry (O.D.).

Myth #4. Running with scissors is the leading cause of eye injury in children.
Fact. A recent national survey found that approximately 59% of pediatric eye injuries occur during sport and recreational events. The National Eye Institute also states that baseball is the sport responsible for the greatest number of eye injuries in children aged 14 and younger. However, basketball is the leading cause of eye injuries in those aged 15 to 24.

According to Prevent Blindness America, 72 percent of all sports-related eye injuries are to those aged 25 and younger. Yet, only 15 percent of children wear eye protection. Children should be encouraged to wear the appropriate safety eyewear, such as goggles or face masks, for every sport in which they participate.

“We need a cultural change in this country. Children who play contact sports such as basketball and baseball should be wearing eye protection — most do not. Twenty years ago, very few children wore bicycle helmets; now a parent would be considered irresponsible if she sent her child out riding without a helmet. We need the same sense of concern when children play sports,” said Dr. Borchert.

Myth #5. It is impossible to get young children to wear sunglasses.
Fact. “It is very important that young children wear sunglasses and the newer products with strap-on frames are easy for them to wear,” said Dr. Borchert.
The lens of a child allows 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. Most parents are aware of the critical need to protect their children’s skin from UV exposure with sun block, yet few insist their children wear sunglasses.
“If it is bright enough outdoors for you to be wearing sunglasses, your child should also be wearing them,” said Dr. Borchert.

New, colorful sunglasses with Velcro straps, designed for infants and toddlers are available in stores and via the Internet. They are comfortable and provide excellent protection from UV rays and foreign objects. Most young children adapt to them easily.

SOURCE Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

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In the new special episode “Getting a shot: You Can Do It!” from the Emmy®-nominated series, Sid and his friends will learn the basic science behind germs, viruses and vaccines using age-appropriate vocabulary and scientific concepts that have become a hallmark of the series. PBS KIDS will premiere the series on Monday, October 26 (check local listings) with several re-airings over the following weeks.

It’s vaccination day at Sid’s school, and Sid and his friends are a little apprehensive about getting a shot. Thankfully, a very special nurse will be giving the kids their vaccination–Sid’s Grandma! Throughout the special episode, Grandma, Teacher Susie, Mom and Dad all do their part to make vaccination day a fun learning experience filled with music, games and lots of laughs.

“SID THE SCIENCE KID explores the science behind the everyday experiences of a preschooler and we know that getting a shot can be scary for many children,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “This special episode is an opportunity for us to help kids understand why they are getting a shot while providing parents and caregivers with helpful resources to handle this important issue.”

Source: Jim Henson Company

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders spoke at a ceremony this morning in the Capitol Rotunda to unveil a statue of Helen Keller, a stalwart beacon of child education. The statue will become part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, which is comprised of two statues from each state to honor notable men and women. Below are the Speaker’s remarks:

“Members of House and Senate Leadership, Governor Riley, President Augusto and members of the Keller family: What a great day this is for America in the Capitol of the United States as we honor Helen Keller.

“As Helen Keller said: ‘My sympathies are with all who struggle for justice.’ In her lifetime, Helen Keller worked for opportunity for people with disabilities, for racial equality, and for the rights of women.

“In demonstrating that passion that she had, Helen Keller, in this statue in the Capitol, will always remind us that people must be respected for what they can do, rather than judged for what they cannot. Helen Keller ignited a century marked by progress for people with disabilities. We have made progress rooted in our national ideal that we are all created equal.

“For more than 30 years, a free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities has been required. For almost 20 years, fundamental civil rights for people with disabilities have been assured by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For a generation, closed captioning for televisions and relay services have helped remove barriers to participation in society. Let me also thank our signers who are here today.

Source: Office of the Speaker of the House

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