Healthy Growth Of Children Research Articles

Development of the Parent-Child Communication Quality Scale from the Perspective of Children's Psychological Needs.

Parent-child communication plays a crucial role in children's healthy growth. Nevertheless, there is currently a paucity of instruments designed to measure the quality of parent-child communication from a psychological perspective. Accordingly, based on the self psychology theory, this study has developed the Parent-Child Communication Quality Scale (PCCQS) to assess the quality of parent-child communication in terms of the extent to which children's psychological needs are met. A total of 1095 urban children (50.9% girls, M = 9.92, SD = 1.15) aged 8 to 12 years in eastern China were surveyed in this study. The measurement structure of the PCCQS was examined using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results of the CFA supported the second-order, four-factor structure of the PCCQS, with the 15-item PCCQS consisting of four factors (i.e., mirroring, idealization, empathy, and appropriate response). In conclusion, the PCCQS has good construct and criterion validity, as well as high internal consistency and split-half reliability. The scale is therefore a valuable tool for assessing the quality of parent-child communication.

Social Media Influences on Dietary Awareness in Children.

Social media platforms have become increasingly influential channels for discussing various aspects of children's health, including dietary habits and food choices. This research explores the impact of social media on childhood dietary habits regarding the foods children consume by analyzing published findings about online videos and other social media platforms. From a pool of 9646 articles available on Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, and ProQuest, 25 were selected for inclusion in this systematic literature review after meeting the qualifying criteria. The screened papers contained clinical studies, cross-sectional studies, and editorials published in English. A review of these articles revealed that individuals' communication with friends via social media significantly enhanced their comprehension of conversations related to weight management. The results of this research inform efforts to combat poor diets and promote overall well-being among children at an earlier stage when personal interactions are likely limited. To promote the healthy growth of children, it is essential that the videos they engage with offer them appropriate guidance on maintaining a nutritious diet. Ultimately, this research provides insights into how social media creates environments conducive to the well-being of children. As a result, social media can serve as a valuable resource to help mitigate the prevalence of obesity in this vulnerable population.

Playful enactive interventions can enhance agency, empathy and social integration in children

Theoretical frameworkPlay is vital for children's healthy development and growth. According to the enactive framework, play can foster socialization, self-regulation and cognitive processing. When children become active participants in pleasurable activities, they engage with their environment in diverse ways, engendering new meanings and transforming existing ones. Previous studies have shown that social integration and agency can be cultivated from an early age. Purpose or motivationIn the current study we review prior research, taking into consideration the enactive approach. From this perspective, we revalue play as a particularly fruitful activity, which enables embodied interactions between peers, contributing to participatory sense-making processes. This study examines the impact of playful enactive interventions on transformative agency and social integration. MethodsThe study involved 161 children aged 6–8 years, who attended four schools in Bariloche, Argentina. We conducted enactive interventions which propitiated playful affective instances through non-competitive play and self-awareness practices. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed to evaluate changes in social integration and agency in children. ResultsThe children showed changes both in the social domain - including peer relationships, empathy and classroom climate - and in their capacity for agency and emotional regulation. In addition, most children reported that they continued to use the self-awareness practices in stressful situations outside of school. ConclusionThe present study reveals that playful enactive interventions can foster agency and empathy during childhood. Embodied experiences within playful contexts may have enabled participatory sense-making processes that contributed to the recreation of peer relationships.

Early Brain Development and Public Health.

Early brain development research is important to public health professionals for understanding early development and strengthening systemic supports for young children's healthy brain growth. This overview describes basic processes of early brain development, including prenatal development and the "fetal programming" of brain and behavior, neural proliferation and the essential influence of experience in the creation of neural networks, the maturational timing of different brain systems and their behavioral consequences, the myelination of neural pathways and its influence on children's action and thinking, and the capacity of the brain to create new neural connections throughout life, which contributes to its continuing adaptability to new experiences. The implications of this research for public health and for strengthening support for early brain development are considered throughout this discussion.

Research on the “1+1+1” Physical Intelligence Curriculum System under the Background of Healthy Children Action Plan

“14th Five-Year Plan” period is the first five years to the second century goal, but also the key period for the development of children’s health cause. “Healthy China 2030” plan outline “clearly put forward the implementation of healthy children plan [1]. Although the national level attaches great importance to children’s health, there are still many factors that affect children’s healthy growth in daily life, such as various diseases in children’s physical health, developmental delays in various physiological functions, insufficient exercise ability, obesity, etc., as well as mental health problems such as stuttering, night terrors, fear, anxiety, rage, lying, autism and hyperactivity. To solve these problems, not only the attention and deployment of the country and the government, but also the understanding and cooperation at the social level and the family level, in order to better promote the healthy growth of children under the joint efforts of everyone. The “1+1+1” “Body intelligence” curriculum system research includes a healthy child’s physical development system, a healthy child’s psychological (mental) development system, and a healthy child’s ability development system. Aiming at the problems of physical and mental development and ability development in the healthy growth of children, service programs are scientifically and rationally formulated, and implemented from the social level and family level to effectively improve children’s health level [2].

Effects of Dance Music on Motor Skills and Balance in Children: An Observational Cohort Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children in Japan were restricted from sports and outdoor activities. Regular physical activity is essential for healthy growth and development in children, with recommendations advocating for activities such as strength training. However, the long-term effects of the restrictions have not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an "exercise class", specifically a dance program, designed to improve motor function in elementary school children affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which may have compromised their motor function. The dance program was developed by a sports science teacher, a professional dancer, and a physical therapist, and it was evaluated in a community-based participatory study. Trained dance instructors conducted one-hour dance sessions in a medical center, held once a week for two months from June to August 2023. A physical therapist and dance instructors led the elementary school children. Outcome measures included grip strength, lower extremity muscle strength, back muscle strength, dynamic balance function during movement, physical activity time, and body fat percentages. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Twenty-four children aged 6-9 years participated in the exercise class over a two-month period. Improvement was observed in grip strength, lower extremity muscle strength, and dynamic balance function during movement. However, physical activity time, body fat percentages, and back muscle strength did not change. The results indicated a significant improvement in motor skills. Dance is an inexpensive program that elementary school children can enjoy while improving their motor skills.

Impact of the Welsh Government Flying Start programme on children’s BMI and immunisation uptake

Flying Start (FS) is the Welsh Government’s targeted Early Years programme for families with children under 4 years of age who live in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales. The programme aims to mitigate the impact of poverty which is linked to poor life outcomes in early childhood. In particular, this study aims to investigate the impact of FS programme on FS children’s health outcomes in the form of Body Mass Index (BMI) and immunisation uptake, using linking analysis. The datasets linked to the FS cohort are respectively the Child Measurement Programme (CMP) and the National Community Child Health (NCCH). CMP consists of routinely taking height and weight measures of children in reception year to monitor BMI, whereas the NCCH is used to monitor health surveillance programmes, including immunisation. This project will use linked data to investigate the prevalence of fully immunised children across different levels of engagement with FS programme (normal and under-engagement). It will also look at prevalence of different BMI thresholds (underweight, overweight, and normal weight) and differences in mean BMI scores by FS programme engagement levels. In particular, chi-square will be used to explore differences in the proportion of fully immunised children and BMI thresholds, and t-test will be used to identify between-group differences in mean BMI scores. Results from this programme will inform of long-term health outcomes in relation to Early Years programmes. It will also help policy target resources and inform relevant interventions to support the healthy growth of children.

아동보호 목적에 부합하는 아동학대 초기대응 및 피해자지원에 대한 소고

An effective response to child abuse is a coordinated response by all agencies involved in preventing abuse and supporting children. Our legal system is very similar to that of the United Kingdom, which responded to child abuse early on by enacting the Children Act. It is very important to make child protection a nationwide goal and set a specific action plan for it, and to create a system that overhauls the relevant legal system and makes the many organizations involved in child abuse work together organically. The interviews with child abuse officials also highlighted a number of shortcomings in cooperation with other organizations, especially the police, which are involved in handling child abuse cases. The reasons for this include the lack of a complete legal system for information sharing and the lack of a higher authority to mediate conflicts. It is necessary to revise the law to substantially improve cooperation between organizations in the child abuse legal system. In addition, the victim's public defender system is being introduced to provide practical support to victims of child abuse, but it was found that there are limitations in the legal system for victim's public defenders to obtain information on child abuse. In this regard, it can be said that a prerequisite for receiving practical help for the healthy growth and protection of children is to obtain detailed information about the child and the environment in which the child is placed, so the law should be amended to give them practical authority in this regard.

Maternal knowledge on nutritional-focused nurturing care and associated factors among women with stunted children aged 6-23 months in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: A cross-sectional study.

Childhood stunting poses serious long-term risks to cognitive development, education, and adult productivity. While research has explored stunting's causes and effects, there is a lack of focus on maternal knowledge of nutrition-focused nurturing care for stunted children. This gap limits the ability to design effective interventions that target improved caregiving practices. This study aimed to assess maternal knowledge of nutrition-focused nurturing care and explore associated factors, including child gender, maternal age, education, income, and prior exposure to nurturing care information, among mothers of stunted children aged 6-23 months in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 73 mothers in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. Data were collected from February to March 2024 using a validated self-assessment questionnaire covering four domains: responsive caregiving, early learning opportunities, safety and security, and supportive caregiver well-being. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and one-way ANOVA, were performed. Overall maternal knowledge of nurturing care was high, with a mean score of 25.15 (SD = 4.72). Factors significantly associated with higher knowledge included having male children (p = 0.017), being aged 30-34 years (p = 0.035), possessing higher education levels (p = 0.002), and prior exposure to nurturing care information (p <0.001). Family income significantly influenced knowledge in the domain of early learning opportunities (p = 0.006), though not in other areas. Maternal knowledge of nutrition-focused nurturing care was influenced by child gender, maternal age, education, income, and prior exposure to nurturing care information. These findings emphasize the importance of focused educational interventions in nursing practice to enhance maternal knowledge. Addressing these factors can help align nursing strategies better to support the healthy growth and development of children.

Risk Factors for Food Insecurity among Early Childhood Education Providers: Time for a Solution.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges in the child care industry, leading to closures and financial strain. Early care and education (ECE) providers faced reduced income, increased debt, and material hardships such as food insecurity. Using survey data collected through the Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), this study examines the association between food insecurity risk, sociodemographic factors, and pandemic-related service changes among ECE providers in California. The results showed that income, race, and increased food costs were significantly associated with a higher risk of food insecurity among ECE providers. Compared to incomes greater than USD 60,000, those earning USD 40,000-USD 49,999 and USD 50,000-USD 59,999 had higher odds of food insecurity (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 0.683-1.86; OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 0.623-1.81, respectively). Black (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.21-2.94) and multi-racial respondents (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.1-2.65) had higher odds of food insecurity than white respondents. Lastly, respondents experiencing increased food costs had greater odds of food insecurity (OR: 4.52, 95% CI: 2.74-7.45). These findings suggest the need for policies and interventions aimed at increasing food access among vulnerable ECE providers. Such interventions will better protect them from financial shocks and the risk of food insecurity, and will support their crucial role in healthy child growth and development.

Problems and Suggestions of Parents in Family Education in the Context of the "Double Reduction" Program

With the introduction of the "double-decrease" policy and the Family Education Promotion Act, the status and importance of family education has become more and more prominent. Parents, as the main body of family education, play a crucial role in family education, and improving the level of parental family education is an important issue in promoting the healthy growth of children and adolescents and deepening education reform. At present, parents in family education still have the problems of weak consciousness, unclear understanding of the identity of the main body of family education, "utilitarianization" of family education, inappropriate education methods and insufficient ability of parents in family education, etc. In view of the above problems, we can discuss countermeasures from the main body of family education, the goal, the way and other aspects to enhance the ability of parents in family education and improve their level of family education. To address these problems, countermeasures can be explored from the aspects of the subject, goal and method of family education, so as to enhance parents' ability in family education and improve their family education level.

Quality and Quantity of School Lunch in Nanjing: Based on Data from the Sunshine Restaurant Supervision Platform.

School lunch plays an important role in children's healthy growth. Previous investigations revealed many problems with school lunches, including unreasonable dietary structure and insufficient micronutrients. This study aimed to assess the dietary structure and nutritional quality of lunches in Nanjing primary and middle schools. A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 44 schools that supply lunch in 12 districts in Nanjing, with two primary and two middle schools in each district. Twenty-four primary and twenty middle schools were selected. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to explore the influencing factors. Findings revealed a serious shortage of milk and fruit in school lunches; supply of eggs, fish, shrimp, and shellfish was less than half of the recommended quantity; livestock and poultry supply exceeded the recommended level by over four times. Energy and nutrition intake were suboptimal. Provision of energy, carbohydrates, vitamins (A, B1, B2, and C), calcium, and iron in urban primary schools was significantly higher than that in non-urban primary schools. The same pattern of significantly higher nutrients was equally seen in urban middle schools compared with non-urban middle schools, indicating that food supply was affected by regional economies. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the quality of lunches, with a particular focus on those in non-urban areas.

Significance and the Use of Legumes in Developing Weaning Foods With a Balanced Nutrition—A Review

ABSTRACTWeaning is a crucial stage in an infant's development when they gradually move from being breastfed to receiving complementary foods. The typical age for introducing weaning foods is 4–6 months. This period is often characterized by rapid weight gain, so proper nutrition essential for optimal growth and development. Foods with a balanced nutrition are very important for regulating metabolism for healthy growth of children. Cereal grains and legumes have a major role in both commercial and homemade weaning foods. In developing countries, cereals and legumes are the optimal choices for producing nutrient‐dense, high‐protein, and high‐energy weaning foods. It is crucial to research and develop composite legume blends for their expanded utilization as weaning foods. Understanding the importance of complementary foods and introducing them appropriately are critical to the health and development of the infant. Furthermore, fortification and supplementation with minerals and vitamins can play a vital role in such foods. This article provides an overview of recommendations made by health authorities in relation to the onset of weaning, types/combination of foods, and infant dietary requirements and highlights the importance of including legumes in the weaning diet to address nutrient deficiencies, particularly in regions with high rates of malnutrition.

The smarter the city develops, the healthier the child grows? Evidence from China

This paper examines whether implementing the smart cities initiative (SCI) can effectively uphold children's right to healthy growth. Using a time-varying difference-in-differences model and a data set collected from 2638 counties in China from 2005 to 2018, we empirically examine the causal relationship between SCI and child growth for the first time. The results show that SCI has a beneficial impact on mitigating the prevalence of stunting and wasting. This conclusion remains valid after various robustness checks, including propensity score matching, placebo testing, and instrumental variable method. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that SCI substantially reduces the risk of growth failure in children, particularly in the eastern region and cities with higher administrative levels, and boys are more positively affected than girls. Finally, we find that SCI can facilitate the healthy growth of children through three primary effects: economic development, reduced pollution exposure risk, and optimized public service quality. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of SCI on safeguarding children's health and establishes a foundation for informed decision-making to promote child-friendly growth spaces in China and other developing countries.

Mothers’ challenges and experiences of children with cerebral palsy: a qualitative meta-synthesis

Abstract Objective To examine what challenges and experiences a mother faces in caring for children with cerebral palsy (CP). As the main caregiver of children with CP, mothers are under multiple pressures. Even though mothers’ challenges and experiences of children with CP will affect their quality of life and the rehabilitation of the children, little is known about their challenges and experiences during the whole care. Methods A qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to extract and analyze qualitative research from the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Ovid and MEDLINE databases. Thirteen articles were selected and analyzed using thematic syntheses. Results From 2522 screened abstracts, 84 texts were reviewed, and 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Mothers’ challenges and experiences of children with CP include 4 themes, both positive and negative. Conclusions The mothers of children with CP suffer from physical burden, as well as psychological pressure, in the care experience; social and healthcare support are their main challenges. Interventions to help them face the difficulties and adapt to the role of caregivers as soon as possible should target multiple aspects in order to maximize effectiveness, to promote the healthy growth of children with CP.

Analysis of the Causes of the Formation of the “Involution” of Chinese Family Education

Starting from the influence of Chinese traditional reading culture on contemporary Chinese family education, this paper analyzes the reasons for the formation of the “involution” of Chinese family education. The involution means to have fierce competition but no good feedbacks. This study found that the objective reasons include China's national education policy, and the subjective reasons come from the current family education; there are problems such as incomplete awareness of parents' education, lack of educational ability, education comparison and so on. It is proposed that the correct values and competition views should be cultivated among family members so that parents can take the initiative to break the barriers of education and promote the all-around development and healthy growth of children. This article focuses on the role of family education and the educational methods to prevent “involution”, which may provide another way for China's family education.

A cluster-randomized trial of water, sanitation, handwashing and nutritional interventions on stress and epigenetic programming

A regulated stress response is essential for healthy child growth and development trajectories. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in rural Bangladesh (funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01590095) to assess the effects of an integrated nutritional, water, sanitation, and handwashing intervention on child health. We previously reported on the primary outcomes of the trial, linear growth and caregiver-reported diarrhea. Here, we assessed additional prespecified outcomes: physiological stress response, oxidative stress, and DNA methylation (N = 759, ages 1–2 years). Eight neighboring pregnant women were grouped into a study cluster. Eight geographically adjacent clusters were block-randomized into the control or the combined nutrition, water, sanitation, and handwashing (N + WSH) intervention group (receiving nutritional counseling and lipid-based nutrient supplements, chlorinated drinking water, upgraded sanitation, and handwashing with soap). Participants and data collectors were not masked, but analyses were masked. There were 358 children (68 clusters) in the control group and 401 children (63 clusters) in the intervention group. We measured four F2-isoprostanes isomers (iPF(2α)-III; 2,3-dinor-iPF(2α)-III; iPF(2α)-VI; 8,12-iso-iPF(2α)-VI), salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol, and methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) exon 1F promoter including the NGFI-A binding site. Compared with control, the N + WSH group had lower concentrations of F2-isoprostanes isomers (differences ranging from −0.16 to −0.19 log ng/mg of creatinine, P < 0.01), elevated post-stressor cortisol (0.24 log µg/dl; P < 0.01), higher cortisol residualized gain scores (0.06 µg/dl; P = 0.023), and decreased methylation of the NGFI-A binding site (−0.04; P = 0.037). The N + WSH intervention enhanced adaptive responses of the physiological stress system in early childhood.

Nutrient Intake of Stunted Filipino School-age Children: Results from the 2018-2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey

Over the last few decades, stunting has decreased worldwide, although the prevalence remains high in underdeveloped and developing countries. A child's healthy growth is a key measure of their overall well-being, and it is directly linked to his or her nutrient intake and resistance to illnesses. This study determined the nutrient intake of stunted Filipino school-age children utilizing secondary data from the 2018–2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute. A total of 26,332 5–10-yr-old school-age children were included in the study. The data utilized were nutritional status, socio-economic status and demographic profile, and nutrient intake of school- age children. Stata version 16 was used for all statistical tests, whereas the PC-SIDE software was used for the estimation of the mean usual intake of energy and nutrients. Among stunted school-age children, mean energy, protein, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and fat intake were significantly higher among urban households than their counterparts. The proportion of stunted school-age children meeting the recommended intake for energy (9.3%), iron (15%), vitamin A (24.8%), thiamin (27%), and riboflavin (29.8%) were significantly higher in the urban as compared to rural areas. The energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, iron, and calcium intake of stunted school-age children were significantly lower as compared to the non-stunted. The data show that despite the decreasing prevalence of undernutrition in the country, the problem of childhood stunting still persists. Furthermore, non-stunted children only had slightly better nutrient intakes. These urges work on the major determinants of stunting in the Philippines and the implementation of appropriate interventions such as supplementary feeding programs, food production, and nutrition education.

Historical Review and Prospect of the Rights of Ethnic Minority Children in Western China

Children are the hope of the country in the future. People have been concerned about the healthy growth of children, pay attention to welfare undertakings, and make practical efforts for children's own interests and long-term development. People attach great importance to this, in order to protect the healthy growth of children, constantly children's health protection work. The author mainly discusses the historical review and prospect of children's health from four aspects: improving the protection of child welfare, improving children's security system, strengthening children's family responsibility and establishing children's self-protection consciousness.

Operationalising the Capability Approach for Healthy Child Growth via a Participatory Method: An Illustrative Case in Haor Areas of Bangladesh

ABSTRACT The Task Force “Towards a Multidimensional Index to Child Growth”, within the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, developed a capability framework for child growth (CFCG). This framework aims to redefine child growth monitoring, expanding beyond weight and height to encompass parental capabilities. We further operationalised the CFCG in hard-to-reach haor areas of Bangladesh, resulting in the publication of a list outlining parental capabilities for child growth. This paper details the methodology and participatory process employed, offering reflections on how our research followed the criteria proposed by Robeyns for identifying capabilities. First, we built a contextualised list of capabilities for child growth based on discussions with local experts. This list underwent further adaptation for haor regions in two rounds. Initially, we used a doxastic interviewing methodology to create a draft emic list of capabilities for child growth. Subsequently, utilising an epistemic methodology, we refined the list. The doxastic interviews focused on “understanding” the interviewees; the epistemic interviews facilitated equal communication between interviewer and interviewee, promoting knowledge co-creation. This rigorous approach validates the findings with the affected communities and supports implementation of the CFCG in policy and practice. This methodology could be extended to other pertinent research areas for capability scholars.