K-12

Activities, Information, Websites

What's New

• Managing Obesity and Cholesterol in Kids

  If you are concerned about your child's weight, you are in good company. This article states: "Childhood obesity is a serious problem. ... About 25 to 30 percent of school-age children in the United States are overweight or obese, which puts them at a high risk for heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, orthopedic problems, hypertension and other health problems."

• Make an A+ in Food Safety This School Year

  This timely article has many tips to help parents and students avoid the "lunch box bug". These food safety guidelines are good to review even if your children are too young to be packing a lunch to take to school.

• Teaching in Year-Round Schools

  The year-round calendar is an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional nine-month school calendar. This digest examines the benefits and challenges of teaching in year-round schools

• Teaching Mathematics to Gifted Students in a Mixed-Ability Classroom

  If your child is mathematically gifted, then this article will provide you with strategies for how your school can meet the special needs of your child. While this article is written for the educational professional, parents will find it useful when talking with their child's teacher.

• Parenting and Career Development

  Not only what a parent does for a living can influence a child's career choice, but the family dynamics also have a strong influence. The article looks at the ways in which parenting styles, family functioning, and parent-child interaction influence career development. It's written for an educator, but has many good points for a parent as well.

• Homework Helper Calendar - Activities & Resources for Parents & Students

  This calendar provides 30 days or ideas, resources and activities to help parents and students with common homework issues.

• Winter Safety

  With its cold and often stormy weather, winter presents many safety challenge- both indoors and out. Being prepared and following these simple safety tips can help you stay safe and warm this season.

• Winter Sports Injury Prevention

  Millions of persons ski, snowboard, and sled each year in the United States. These cold weather activities, which can be exhilarating, also result in many injuries each year. By developing skills with a qualified instructor and supervising young children while they participate in these activities, you can help reduce the risk of injury.

• CPSC Welcomes High-Tech Toy Testing Equipment

  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today welcomed state-of-the-art testing technology from McDonald's Corporation and RAM Consulting. The high-tech equipment will give CPSC additional tools to evaluate the safety of toys and other children's products.

• More Scooter Safety Information

  Injuries associated with unpowered scooters have increased dramatically from 1999 through 2000. This article summaries injury data and provides safety recommendations for parents and children.

• Keep Your Holidays Happy, Healthy and Headache-Free

  As the holidays approach, people across the country are looking forward to the twinkling lights, festive music, sweet treats and an extra dose of family visits. But for many, these favorite holiday traditions can also bring on an unwelcome threat of headaches and for some, even a debilitating migraine headache attack. This helpful article offers advice on how to prevent or control common holiday situations that could provoke headaches.

• Tis' the Season for Holiday Safety - More Holiday Safety Tips

  The scene is all too familiar -- frenzied parents rushing through packed-to-the-ceiling aisles searching for the perfect gifts and decorations to celebrate their holiday festivities. With all of the decorating, gift giving and festivity fanfare, making your holiday safe for children will be the most important preparation of all.

Recent Recalls

• CPSC, Dura Kleen (USA) Inc. Announce Recall of Nightlights
  
  

  In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dura Kleen (USA) Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 459,000 nightlights. The nightlights' electrical connections are loose, they are made from flammable plastic and the power switch does not work. The nightlights pose shock and fire hazards to consumers.

• CPSC Releases 'Dangerous Dozen' List of Recalled Toys
  
  

  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is launching a new safety campaign to get dangerous toys out of people's homes. Despite recall notices and public warnings, CPSC has found that many products with the potential to seriously injure or kill are still being used by consumers. CPSC is releasing a list of dangerous recalled toys -- encompassing a total of nearly 50,000,000 product units -- that might still be in people's homes.

• CPSC, Kent International and Kash 'N Gold Ltd. Announce Recall of Scooters
  
  

  In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kent International Inc. and Kash 'N Gold Ltd. are voluntarily recalling about 97,500 scooters. Kent is recalling about 90,000 scooters. The scooter handles can unexpectedly come out of the steering column if the clamp holding them in is not tight, causing the rider to lose control, fall and possibly suffer injuries. Kash 'N Gold is recalling about 7,500 scooters because the plastic "T" joint between the handlebars can break, causing the rider to lose control, fall and possibly suffer injuries.

New Products

• Child Safe - A Practical Guide to Preventing Childhood Injuries (Book)
  
  

  This up-to-date and very practical safety book is must-have for families. It is divided into age-specific sections that clearly show parents what they need to know and do to protect their children. It points out common, but often unknown hazards. The author speaks from extensive experience and the book is filled with examples and statistics to illustrate key points.

• JustBalls.com Personalized Gift Balls
  
  

  This holiday season JustBalls.com, a provider of balls for all sports, offers a unique solution to the perennial dilemma of what to give the person who has everything - personalized, engraved sports balls. Great for sports-addicts, coaches and family members.

• New Curad 'Extreme Shapes' Bandages Dress Hard-to-Fit Body Areas
  
  

  Curad Extreme Shapes is the first bandage to offer shaped-to-fit bandages that stay stuck to fingertips, knuckles, elbows and knees - where many cuts and scrapes occur. Curad Extreme Shapes are not only shaped-to-fit better, but are made of soft, flexible fabric that moves with you for maximum comfort and holding power.