Children's Health

The Problem With Teens Is That They're Just Too Rational

4:06pm September 10, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Teenagers aren't always risk-taking gamblers; they put a lot of effort into weighing financial choices, a study finds. Adults are more apt to adopt rules and quickly make choices that are good enough.

Two polio cases have been reported in Ukraine, where some parents are fearful of vaccinations. Above: A child receives the diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus vaccine in a children's hospital in Kiev.

How Did Polio Pop Up In 2 Polio-Free Countries: Ukraine And Mali?

2:40pm September 10, 2015

by Diane Cole

Three new cases have raised questions about how the virus can suddenly reappear in a place where it had previously been eradicated.

A newborn in Sierra Leone is treated after delivery by Caesarean section. The country's child mortality rate has dropped from 264 per 1,000 in 1990 to an estimated 120 this year.

How Many Children Under 5 Die A Year In The U.S. Vs. Angola?

2:47pm September 09, 2015

by Jason Beaubien

A new report emphasizes significant progress in cutting the number of deaths of children before age 5. But in some parts of the world, the rate is still depressingly high.

Playing Youth Sports Takes A Lot More Green Than It Used To

11:08am September 09, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Kids on club teams have an advantage in making the high school team. But many families are being priced out by the high cost of league fees, equipment, and travel that club sports require.

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Preemies' Survival Rates Improve, But Many Challenges Remain

7:51am September 09, 2015

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Extremely premature babies, those born between 22 and 28 weeks of gestation, are more likely to survive now than they were 20 years ago. But the very youngest still have serious health problems.

The parts of the brain known to help process fear and negative emotion are hyperactive when someone with math anxiety confronts a tricky problem, scientists say.

1 Tutor + 1 Student = Better Math Scores, Less Fear

6:53pm September 08, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Math anxiety is much like other fears, say scientists who scanned the brains of third-graders. One-on-one tutoring soothed the fear circuit in anxious kids' brains and improved performance, too.

Ten-year-old Jake Herrera and his Los Angeles team run around the diamond as a warmup for baseball practice.

Benefits Of Sports To A Child's Mind And Heart All Part Of The Game

5:53pm September 04, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

In NPR's most recent poll, a majority of American adults say they played sports in their youth. Many say they encourage their kids to play, too, and see health benefits as well as lifelong lessons.

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How Likely Is It, Really, That Your Athletic Kid Will Turn Pro?

10:01am September 04, 2015

by Anders Kelto

More than a quarter of parents in a recent poll say they hope their teens who play high school sports will become professional athletes. But sky-high parental expectations can have a dark side.

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California Moves To Stop Misuse Of Psychiatric Meds In Foster Care

12:02pm September 02, 2015

by Elaine Korry

There's ample evidence that children in foster care often get powerful psychiatric medications when other treatments would be safer and more effective. But those treatments can be hard to get.

Sleep More, Sneeze Less: Increased Slumber Helps Prevent Colds

8:54am September 02, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

Just a couple extra hours can make a real difference, a study shows. Adults who slept only five or six hours were four times more likely to get sick when exposed to a common cold virus.

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