Good to Know

A new study ranks Massachusetts as one of the best states for families.

In WalletHub’s 2020 Best & Worst States to Raise a Family, the Bay State took second place, just behind Minnesota. Our home state scored high in the areas of health and safety, education and family fun.

Terrible twos? More like stressful sixes.

In a national survey of parents conducted by Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, moms and dads said children are the most difficult to handle at age 6.

Massachusetts has the highest vaccination rate in U.S.

Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Immunization Survey, researchers at expertinsurancereviews.com examined how many children in each state have completed the combined 7-vaccine series, which includes DTaP, Polio, MMR, Hib, HepB, Varicella, and PCV. Not only was the Bay State in the top spot, New England was the only region with consistently high combined vaccination rates in the country.

FDA approves new peanut allergy medication

As the number of children with food allergies continues to rise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced the approval of the first medication to treat the second most common food allergy among children - peanuts.

The new medication, called Palforzia, was approved by the FDA on Jan. 31 and can be used in children ages 4 to 17. Although it is not a cure, the new medication is designed to minimize the incidence of severity of a child’s allergic reaction to peanuts. Palforzia works by exposing children to controlled dosages of peanut protein over time, which allows the chance for kids to build up a tolerance.

Although peanut allergies are one of the most common, one in 13 children suffer from potentially life-threatening food allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children with food allergies increased by about 50% between 1997 and 2011.

Here are a few ways you can keep your children safe from food allergies, according to EatRight.org: • Get to know your child’s support team: Introduce yourself and your child to the adults he or she sees every day - teachers, nurses, coaches, bus drivers, cafeteria staff and administrators. Clear up any misconceptions they may have about food allergies. Provide them

Children whose lives might be improved by getting services for autism could be falling through the cracks, according to a new study conducted by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The study, published in the journal Autism Research, found that one-fourth of children with autism spectrum disorder might go undiagnosed. Researchers also found that children whose autism is not recognized are more likely to be black or Hispanic.

“There may be various reasons for the disparity, from communication or cultural barriers between minority parents and physicians to anxiety about the complicated diagnostic process and fear of stigma,” Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers and study co-author Walter Zahorodny said. “Also, many parents whose children are diagnosed later often attribute their first concern to a behavioral or medical issue rather than a developmental problem.”

with specific information about your child and how they can support him or her. • Know the epinephrine plan: Make sure your child’s epinephrine and written plans - such as the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan and a 504 Plan - are up-to-date and on file. This means asking where your child’s epinephrine auto-injectors are stored, who has access to them, how easily they can be accessed in case of an emergency and that they are stored properly. • Volunteer at your child’s school: Maintain frequent contact with a room parent and get involved. Sign up to volunteer or chaperone for classroom events or field trips. If you are unable to attend, ask a trusted friend, neighbor or family member who is comfortable administering epinephrine. • Involve your child: Read books about food allergies with younger children. Help them practice with auto-injector trainers and make up fun hand-washing songs before and after meals. Teach older children to read food labels, avoid non-labeled (including homemade) foods, how to recognize symptoms of a reaction and to report bullying. • Make safe meals and snacks fun: Try to treat allergies as a chance to teach children about healthful and safe eating. Read allergy-friendly cookbooks and blogs for inspiration, and get your child involved in safe food planning,

1 in 4 children with autism could go undiagnosed

shopping and preparation.

Zahorodny advocates that every child should be screened at 18 and 24 months, 30 or 36 months and again at 40 or 48 months.

According to Ada.com, the most common signs of autism include: • Avoiding eye contact • Delayed speech and communication skills • Reliance on rules and routines • Being upset by relatively minor changes • Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch and smells • Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions • Focusing on or becoming obsessed by a narrow range of interests or objects • Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands or rocking • Children not responding to their name by 12 months • Children not pointing at distant objects by 14 months

Many parents mistaken about their child’s video game behavior

Eighty-six percent of parents agree that teens spend too much time gaming, but many may be mistaken about the extent of their own child’s video game habits, a new national poll suggests.

Parents also report very dif- ferent gaming patterns for teen boys than girls, according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Twice as many parents say their teen boy plays video games every day compared to parents of teen girls. Teen boys are also more likely to spend three or more hours gaming.

Overall, parents surveyed say gaming often gets in the way of other aspects of their teen’s life, such as family activities and interactions, sleep, homework, friendship with non-gaming peers, and extracurricular activities.

“Although many parents believe video games can be good for teens, they also report a num- ber of negative impacts of pro- longed gaming,” says Mott Poll co-director and Mott pediatrician Gary Freed, MD, MPH. “Parents should take a close look at their teen’s gaming behavior and set reasonable limits to reduce harm- ful impacts on sleep, family and peer relationships and school performance.”

But parents may not always have the most accurate perception of their teen’s gaming tendencies. Among parents of daily gamers, 54% report their teen plays three or more hours a day (compared to only 13% of teens that do not play every day.) Just 13 percent of these parents believe their teen spends more time gaming than others, while 78% believe their teen’s gaming is less than or about the same as their peers.

“Many parents of frequent gamers have a misconception that the amount of time their teenager spends playing video games is in line with their peers,” Freed says.

While 71% of parents believe video games may have a positive impact on their teen, some try

to restrict video game content. Parents of teens ages 13-15 (compared to those with older teens) are more likely to use rat- ing systems to try to make sure games are appropriate, encourage their teen to play with friends in person rather than online and to ban gaming in their teen’s bedroom.

Freed notes that while gaming may be a fun activity in mod- eration, some teens -such as those with attention issues - are especially susceptible to the constant positive feedback and the stimulus of video games. This may lead to prolonged play that is disruptive to other elements of a teen’s life.

He recommends parents show interest by playing video games with their kids while also commu- nicating healthy limits and ensuring that they have strong privacy settings. In some situations, he notes, games can help parents connect with older kids and may occasionally help open the door to other conversations and interactions.

But parents should also help teens understand that limits and rules around gaming are tied to safety, health, school and rela- tionships.

“Parents can play an important role by setting clear rules about appropriate content and how much time is too much time spent on video games,” Freed says.

“While many parents see bene- fits in gaming, the activity should not be at the expense of face-toface time with family, friends, and teachers who play a pivotal role in promoting a teen’s learning and healthy development.”