Parents can help their children develop good eating habits and stay away from junk foods by setting a good example and serving nutritional foods. (DF)

Children must face the reality of death and learn to cope with grief. Suggestions for helping children deal with death and grief are given. (DF)

Make-believe play is an important part of growing that can help young children develop physically, emotionally, socially, creatively and intellectually. Suggestions are offered to help parents know when play may be leading to abnormal behavior and to know how they can respond to fantasy. (DF)

Caring for a pet can give handicapped children a new sense of responsibility and self-esteem. The value of pet therapy is discussed, and examples of the sometimes dramatic response of handicapped children who participate in such programs are cited. Guidelines for choosing a pet are included. (PP)

This article offers suggestions on planning field trip experiences for young children. Rules should be set and enforced, strollers available, and enough care givers present to manage the group. Grocery stores, fire stations, bookstores, and barbershops are some of the places children enjoy. (DF)

The most basic fact about childhood obesity is that a child who consumes more energy in the form of food than s/he uses will gain weight. Medical information about obesity is reviewed, and ways that parents can help overweight children are suggested. (PP)

Characteristics of hyperactive children are described, along with available treatments for the condition, the cause of which remains obscure. Advice to help parents cope with the problem is included. (PP)

The fact that a mother works has no universally predictable effect on a child, according to recent research. Factors which do matter include: (1) child's age and sex; (2) family's social position; and (3) nature of the mother's work. Improved child care and working conditions are needed. (PP)

Twelve articles present information on childhood health matters, covering such topics as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, obesity, lead, drug abuse, alcohol use, pesticides in schools, school bullies, and reading resources. (CB)

Children who actively take part in sports are susceptible to special injury risks because their bodies are still growing. Parents should keep both the child's individual physical and emotional makeup and the demands of the sport in mind when selecting an activity. Proper training methods and equipment are discussed. (PP)

Young children become vulnerable to stress and depression when they are forced to be over-achievers. Suggestions are offered for helping children enjoy life and develop at their own pace. (DF)

Since children as young as seven years old can suffer from hypertension, all children should have blood pressure checked during physical examinations. Guidelines for testing children's blood pressure are presented along with suggestions about what schools and parents can do to help deal with the problem. (PP)

Children growing up today face unprecedented perils and problems, and for many children the world frequently seems to be an unpredictable place. Pressures on children come from a variety of sources, such as family, peer relationships, and changes in society. (JD)

The problems of latchkey children--those who are at home alone after school--are discussed. Schools can help these children by: (1) teaching them "survival skills," such as how to cope with emergencies, younger siblings, and fear; and (2) offering supervised after-school activities. (PP)

The chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports discusses reasons for engaging in lifetime sports and gives guidelines parents can follow to steer their children toward sports they can enjoy. (PP)