Year-old Children Research Articles

Neurodevelopmental Status in 3 - 5 Years-Old Children with a History of Congenital and Acquired Hypothyroidism

Background: Misdiagnosis and delayed treatment of hypothyroidism can lead to irreversible complications in children. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the neurodevelopmental status of children with congenital and acquired hypothyroidism. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Tehran, Iran (2021 - 2022), involving children aged 3 - 5 years diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Participants were divided into two groups based on medical records: Congenital and acquired hypothyroidism. Neurodevelopmental status was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Final scores above -1 SD and below -2 SD were considered as normal and abnormal neurodevelopmental status, respectively. The frequency of abnormal neurodevelopmental status was compared between the groups. Results: The frequency of delayed neurodevelopmental status was higher in the congenital hypothyroidism group than in the acquired group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. In the congenital group, the age of diagnosis was significantly associated with delays in communication (P = 0.03), gross motor (P = 0.03), fine motor (P = 0.04), and problem-solving (P = 0.02) domains. Significant associations were also observed between low levels of free T4 and delays in communication (P = 0.04), gross motor (P = 0.04), and problem-solving (P = 0.02) skills. Maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy was significantly associated with abnormal personal-social behavior (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Although the frequency of neurodevelopmental abnormalities was higher in the congenital hypothyroidism group compared to the acquired group, the difference was not significant. The comparable risks for neurodevelopmental abnormalities in both congenital and acquired hypothyroidism groups suggest the need for increased attention and interventions to prevent adverse outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Episodic syndromes associated with migraine (clinical and epidemiological study in pediatric practice)

Migraine in children can manifest itself in non-pain clinical phenotypes, among which several episodic syndromes associated with migraine (ESAM) are identified. A significant association with the later development of migraine was found for infantile colic syndrome, benign torticollis, abdominal migraine (AM), cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV).Objective: to identify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhood ESAM and its association with migraine.Material and methods. The study was conducted in Tambov Children's Clinical Hospital. A total of 250 children were included in the study: 120 (48%) girls and 130 (52%) boys aged 5 to 18 years (mean age 13±2.9 years, median age 13 [11; 15] years) with headache complaints. The diagnosis of ESAM was made according to the ICHD-3 criteria.Results. ESAM was observed in 95 (38%) patients aged 5–18 years. An analysis of the prevalence of ESAM in the different age groups showed that in children aged 5–10 years CVS (n=12; 4.8%) was more common than AM (n=6; 2.4%) and BPV (n=5; 2%). In the group of 11–14 year-old children, the frequency of AM clearly predominated (n=11; 4.4%), while in the group of 15–18 year-old adolescents, BPV (n=15; 6%) was observed more frequently compared to CVS (n=9; 3.5%) and AM (n=5; 2%).Conclusion. The results of the study indicate a high incidence of ESAM in child and adolescent patients of somatic and neurological hospitals. The data obtained show the importance of timely diagnosis and correct treatment of ESAM.

Proportional Versus Fixed Chest Compression Depth for Guideline-Compliant Resuscitation of Infant Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES Current guidelines for parameters of the delivery of chest compressions (CC) for infants and children are largely consensus based. Of the two recommended depth targets – 1.5 inches and 1/3 anterior-posterior chest diameter (APD) – it is unclear whether these have equal potential for injury. In previous experiments, our group showed in an animal model of pediatric asphyxial out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA; modeling ∼ 7 year-old children) that 1/3 APD resulted in significantly deeper CC and a higher likelihood of life-threatening injury. We sought to examine and compare injury characteristics of CC delivered at 1.5 inches or 1/3 APD in an infant model of asphyxial OHCA. METHODS Swine were sedated, anesthetized, paralyzed, intubated through direct laryngoscopy, and then mechanically ventilated (10ml/kg, FiO2:21%). APD was measured and confirmed by two investigators via a sliding T-square at the xiphoid. After instrumentation for vital signs monitoring, and while still anesthetized, the endotracheal tube was manually occluded to induce asphyxia, and occlusion was maintained for 9 minutes. Animals were then randomized to receive CC with a depth of 1.5 inches (Group 1) or 1/3 APD (Group 2), both with a rate of 100 per minute. Advanced life support drugs were administered at 13 minutes, and defibrillation at 14 minutes. Resuscitation continued until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or 20 minutes of failed resuscitation. Survivors were sacrificed with KCl after 20 minutes of observation. Veterinary staff conducted necropsy to assay lung injury, rib fracture, hemothorax, airway bleeding, great vessel dissection, and heart/liver/spleen contusion. Injury characteristics were summarized and compared via Chi-Squared test or Mann-Whitney U-test using an alpha = 0.05. RESULTS A total of 36 animals were included for analysis (Group 1: 18; Group 2: 18). Mean (SD) APD overall was 5.58 (0.23) inches, yielding a mean 1/3 APD depth of 1.86 inches. APD did not differ between groups. ROSC rates did not differ between groups. No injury characteristics differed significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS In an swine model of infant asphyxial OHCA and resuscitation considering 1/3 APD or 1.5 inches, neither CC depth strategy was associated with increased injury.

Developing the optimal gross movement interventions to improve the physical fitness of 3-10 year-old children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To identify the optimal parameters of gross movement interventions to yield the strongest effects on physical fitness among children aged 3-10 years and to provide a reference for the development of gross movement interventions to improve the physical fitness of children. There has been a global decline in children's physical fitness. Previous studies have shown that gross movement interventions can improve children's physical fitness, but the optimal intervention parameters for achieving the strongest effects have yet to be determined. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to determine the optimal intervention parameters for yielding the strongest effects on children's physical fitness. We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal databases to identify randomized controlled trials on the effects of gross movement interventions (walking, running, jumping, throwing, batting, rolling, spinning, catching, and leg lifting) on children's physical fitness (upper-body strength, lower-body strength, explosive power, speed, flexibility, and balance). We included studies published up to September 2023. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed based on the PICOS framework, and the quality of the included studies was evaluated. Subgroup analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3, and the data were pooled using a random effects model to obtain the SMD (or WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 23 studies involving 2007 healthy children aged 3-10 years met the inclusion criteria. Gross movement interventions significantly improved the explosive power of children aged 3-10 years [WMD, 6.2]. The most effective intervention duration was 16-18 weeks [WMD, 0.45]. The most effective intervention frequency was one session per week [WMD, 1.06]. The optimal duration of single sessions was 60 min [WMD, 0.47]. Children aged 7-10 years [WMD, 1.41] showed the most significant improvements in physical fitness after gross movement interventions. Gross movement interventions had a positive effect on the physical fitness of children aged 3-10 years. The optimal intervention parameters include 60-min sessions once a week across a total duration of 16-18 weeks.

Global perspectives on tongue-tie assessment of one to ten year-old children in speech-language pathology

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are essential in evaluating tongue structure and function. Due to limited psychometrically validated assessment tools, evidence-based practitioners often rely on clinical expertise to inform their assessment and clinical decision-making. This study aimed to explore how SLPs assess tongue structure and function in children aged 1 to 10 years suspected of having a tongue-tie by examining global practice patterns. Methods: A total of 194 practicing, English-speaking SLPs participated in a global online survey. The survey gathered information on participant demographics, classification tools used, and methods for assessing tongue structure and function, oral motor function and speech production in children with suspected tongue-tie. Results: Participants reported using various measures, including case history, oral examination, and clinical assessment. These measures encompassed evaluation of tongue structure, oral motor tasks and functional measures, including observation of speech, feeding, and swallowing. Notably, 40% of participants indicated they did not use any published assessment tool. While over 90% of participants evaluated feeding skills through parent questionnaires, only 55% observed feeding during mealtimes. Additionally, SLPs in the United States reported using different classification tools for tongue-tie compared to their counterparts in Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries. Conclusion: There is a global trend of limited use of published tongue-tie assessment tools in clinical practice. Most clinicians rely on various measures to evaluate tongue structure and function in children with suspected tongue-tie. These findings highlight the need for a specialized assessment tool that is designed and validated for evaluating tongue structure and function in children beyond infancy.

Turkish spelling errors by Turkish-Dutch bilingual children

The current pilot study adds to the small body of work focusing on Turkish-Dutch children's Turkish literacy attainment by investigating their spelling errors. This study deviates from the previous studies by attempting to find patterns behind the surface representation of errors (i.e. omission, substitution and addition). Fifty-three 10 to 12 year-old Turkish-Dutch bilingual children were asked to write Turkish narratives. The participants misspelled about half of the words. The errors in order of frequency were diacritic errors (i.e. confusing the graphemes with and without diacritics), orthographic ambiguity errors (i.e. phonetically spelling a word though it is not orthographically transparent), punctuation errors, capitalization errors, morphological errors (e.g. using a wrong allomorph of a suffix), spacing errors (e.g. writing two words as one), code-switching (i.e. utilizing Dutch words in Turkish sentences) and Dutch-influenced errors (i.e. using Dutch orthographic rules in Turkish such as spelling /j/ as <j> or /u/ as <oe>). The rest of the errors, which lacked a discernible pattern, were categorized as “other”. These results differed from the findings on Turkish monolingual children's spelling errors in the literature in some notable ways (e.g. the very high rate of misspelled words and the prevalence of diacritic errors).

Buprenorphine with and without gabapentin and clonidine in detoxification of 5-16 year-old children with opioid use disorder: A randomized controlled trial

Buprenorphine with and without gabapentin and clonidine in detoxification of 5-16 year-old children with opioid use disorder: A randomized controlled trial

The Effect of Watching Cartoon on Pain and Anxiety of Venipuncture in 3-6 Year-Old Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Injection-induced anxiety in children is a significant issue, as the pain from injections creates both physical and psychological stress, reducing the child's tolerance and cooperation. Objectives: To determine the effect of watching a cartoon on venipuncture-induced pain and anxiety among 3 - 6-year-old hospitalized children. Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, children admitted to the pediatric ward of Bu-Alisina Hospital in Sari were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. For the intervention group, the distraction technique of watching a cartoon was used during venipuncture. The demographic and medical information was collected using a questionnaire, and pain and anxiety were assessed using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS)-Parents version, the face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) Behavioral Pain Scale, and the Facial Image Scale (FIS) before and during venipuncture. Data analysis was performed using non-parametric tests, with a significance level set at less than 0.05. Results: A total of 140 children were studied in two groups, with 78 (55.71%) being boys. The mean age of children in the intervention group was 52.44 ± 14.37 months, and in the control group, it was 50.91 ± 15.66 months. In the intervention group, the mean pain ranks before and after venipuncture were 4.17 ± 2.36 and 6.0 ± 2.42, respectively, while in the control group, they were 4.40 ± 1.96 and 6.93 ± 2.21, respectively. The mean anxiety ranks before and after venipuncture were 2.61 ± 1.32 and 3.26 ± 1.35 in the intervention group, and 2.80 ± 1.016 and 3.80 ± 0.99 in the control group. The mean pain and anxiety ranks after venipuncture were significantly different between the groups (P &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the mean ranks of pain and anxiety before and after venipuncture were significantly different within both groups (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the cartoon distraction technique effectively reduced pain and anxiety caused by venipuncture in children.

The role of food reward in the associations between weight-based discrimination and feeding practices among caregivers of young children

Certain caregiver feeding practices, including restrictive feeding for weight control, restrictive feeding for health, emotion regulation feeding, and reward feeding, are known to negatively influence short- and long-term child eating and health outcomes. Beyond body size, the precise psychosocial characteristics of caregivers more likely to engage in such feeding practices are unknown. In particular, caregivers who have experienced discrimination based on their weight, who have internalized those biased beliefs, or who find food to be very rewarding may be more likely to use restrictive or controlling feeding practices. The present study investigated the associations among experiences of weight-based discrimination, internalized weight bias, and food reward (i.e., reward-based eating drive) with use of restriction for weight control, restriction for health, emotion regulation feeding, and reward feeding in an online US sample of caregivers (M = 35.27 ± 9.08 y/o) of 2–5 year-old children (N = 305). About half (50.8%) of respondents self-identified as women and most as non-Hispanic (88.5%) and White (75.1%). There were significant positive correlations among caregivers' experience of weight-based discrimination, internalized weight bias, and use of all four feeding practices. Regression results showed that caregivers’ food reward moderated the main effect of weight-based discrimination on restrictive feeding for weight control and emotion regulation feeding, such that caregivers who were high in food reward and who experienced discrimination were most likely to engage in these feeding practices. These results can inform interventions aimed at improving child food environments and health.

Predictive validity of the Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment (SINDA) to identify 4–5 year-old children at risk of developmental delay in a low-risk sample

BackgroundEarly detection of developmental problems is important as it allows for early intervention. Previous studies, in high-risk infants, found high predictive values of atypical scores on the Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment (SINDA) for later neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., cerebral palsy, intellectual disability). AimsThe present study explored SINDA's predictive values to identify risk of developmental delay at 4–5 years. Study designCohort study. Subjects786 low-risk Dutch children (367 boys; median gestational age: 40 (27–42) weeks; mean birth weight: 3455 (SD 577) grams). Outcome measuresThe SINDA was assessed at 2–12 months and risk of developmental delay was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) at 4–5 years. SINDA's predictive values were determined for five ASQ domains and the total ASQ score for children at risk of marked (all ASQ domains deviant) and any (one or more ASQ domains deviant) developmental delay. ResultsPresence of one atypical SINDA scale score showed low to moderate sensitivities (12–88 %, depending on the SINDA scale and ASQ domain involved), moderate to high specificities (66–94 %), low positive predictive values (PPVs; 3–16 %), and high negative predictive values (NPVs; 95–100 %) for children at risk of marked and any developmental. Presence of multiple atypical SINDA scale scores predicted deviant ASQ domains slightly better (sensitivities = 11–62 %, specificities = 90–98 %, PPVs = 6–30 %, and NPVs = 95–100 %). ConclusionsIn low-risk infants, SINDA's predictive value is low for detecting children at risk of marked and any developmental delay at 4–5 years, as reflected by the low sensitivities. One of the explanations is the relatively low prevalence of developmental delay in low-risk populations. This might have consequences for the application of the SINDA in general healthcare settings (e.g. child health clinics), but further studies are needed to draw this conclusion.

Polygenic scores for psychiatric traits mediate the impact of multigenerational history for depression on offspring psychopathology.

A family history of depression is a well-documented risk factor for offspring psychopathology. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of depression remain unclear. We used genetic, family history, and diagnostic data from 11,875 9-10 year-old children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. We estimated and investigated the children's polygenic scores (PGSs) for 30 distinct traits and their association with a family history of depression (including grandparents and parents) and the children's overall psychopathology through logistic regression analyses. We assessed the role of polygenic risk for psychiatric disorders in mediating the transmission of depression from one generation to the next. Among 11,875 multi-ancestry children, 8,111 participants had matching phenotypic and genotypic data (3,832 female [47.2%]; mean (SD) age, 9.5 (0.5) years), including 6,151 [71.4%] of European ancestry). Greater PGSs for depression (estimate = 0.129, 95% CI = 0.070-0.187) and bipolar disorder (estimate = 0.109, 95% CI = 0.051-0.168) were significantly associated with higher family history of depression (Bonferroni-corrected P < .05). Depression PGS was the only PGS that significantly associated with both family risk and offspring's psychopathology, and robustly mediated the impact of family history of depression on several youth psychopathologies including anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, and any psychiatric disorder (proportions mediated 1.39%-5.87% of the total effect on psychopathology; FDR-corrected P < .05). These findings suggest that increased polygenic risk for depression partially mediates the associations between family risk for depression and offspring psychopathology, showing a genetic basis for intergenerational transmission of depression. Future approaches that combine assessments of family risk with polygenic profiles may offer a more accurate method for identifying children at elevated risk.

Risk factors associated with underweight in children aged one to two years: a longitudinal study

BackgroundUnderweight is a prevalent health issue in children. This study aimed to identify factors associated with underweight in children aged 1–2 years in Hamadan city. Unlike the studies conducted in this field, which are cross-sectional and do not provide information on the effect of age changes on underweight, our longitudinal approach provides insights into weight changes over time. On the other hand, this study focuses on the high-risk age group of 1 to 2 years, which has only been addressed in a few studies.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, 414 mothers with 1 to 2 year-old children referred to the health centers of Hamadan city, whose information is in the SIB system, a comprehensive electronic system, were examined to identify factors related to underweight. The response variable was weight-for-age criteria classified into three categories: underweight, normal weight, and overweight. A two-level longitudinal ordinal model was used to determine the factors associated with underweight.ResultsOf the children studied, 201 (48.6%) were girls and 213 (51.4%) were boys. Significant risk factors for underweight included low maternal education (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.10–11.47), maternal unemployment (AOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.05–10.91), maternal height (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.79–0.92), lack of health insurance (AOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.04–7.84), gestational age less than 24 years (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 16.28–0.97), child age 12–15 months (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.37–3.74), and child's birth weight (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.70–0.58).ConclusionBased on the results of the present study, it seems that the possibility of being underweight among children is more related to the characteristics of mothers; therefore, taking care of mothers can control some of the weight loss of children.

Development of full-body rhythmic synchronization in middle childhood

Rhythmic entrainment is a fundamental aspect of musical behavior, but the skills required to accurately synchronize movement to the beat seem to develop over many years. Motion capture studies of corporeal synchronization have shown immature abilities to lock in to the beat in children before age 5, and reliable synchronization ability in adults without musical training; yet there is a lack of data on full-body synchronization skills between early childhood and adulthood. To document typical rhythmic synchronization during middle childhood, we used a wireless motion capture device to measure period- and phase-locking of full body movement to rhythm and metronome stimuli in 6 to 11 year-old children in comparison with adult data. Results show a gradual improvement with age; however children’s performance did not reach adult levels by age 12, suggesting that these skills continue to develop during adolescence. Our results suggest that in the absence of specific music training, full-body rhythmic entrainment skills improve gradually during middle childhood, and provide metrics for examining the continued maturation of these skills during adolescence.

Calibration for in vivo monitoring of thyroid of exposed population at risk of intakes of radioiodine isotopes due to a nuclear or radiological emergency

This work presents an improvement of the calibration of a broad energy germanium detector (BEGe) using age dependent neck-thyroid phantoms for thyroid monitoring of exposed individuals (workers and members of the public), allowing the detection and quantification of incorporated radioiodine isotopes in a nuclear medicine frame or in case of accident of a nuclear reactor.A BEGe detector was calibrated using a family of age-dependent thyroid-neck phantoms that simulate thyroids of 1, 5, 10, 15 year-old children and (male and female) adults, based in ICRP Publication 8 (ICRP, 2002) and ANSI 13.44 Standard (ANSI, 2014).The calibration of the BEGe detector for all neck phantoms was performed with the same counting geometry, centered under the BE Ge detector and at the same distance of 15 cm. Using same counting parameters allows to compare efficiency curves of thyroid monitoring depending with age. The in vivo measurements with the BE Ge detector allow to identify X rays and gamma emissions between 10 and 1000 keV with a great resolution and to quantify activities of radioiodine isotopes in the thyroid of exposed population.Calibration curves have been obtained for different sizes of the thyroid, depending with age. This study of counting efficiency using the main energies of the most important radioiodine isotopes result in accurate activity calculations. Detection limits were obtained for each radioiodine isotope, using blank phantoms of each age.

Development of cognitive capacities in 6-7 year-old children through problem situations in mathematics

Problem and objective. The relevance of the study is determined by the need for the development of cognitive capacities in the senior preschool age since they form a basis for general giftedness. However, there is no generally accepted point of view in the scientific and pedagogical community as to understanding the essence of children’s cognitive capacities and defining their structure. One of the means to develop these abilities is represented by problem situations which, in the process of their solution, have a positive effect on cognitive capacities. The purpose of the study: modelling the component structure of cognitive capacities and their practical development in children of senior preschool age using problem situations. Materials and methods. A system analysis of scientific sources was carried out; a pedagogical experiment was carried out covering 48 children of the Municipal state-run preschool educational institution “Kindergarten No. 72” of Kirov; a set of variable problem situations in mathematics aimed at the development of cognitive capacities in children aged 6-7 was developed and tested. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used in the processing of the results. Results. The component structure of senior preschool children’s cognitive capacities was developed which includes cognitive processes as well as the forms and properties of intellection. Problem situations of four types are used for the development of cognitive capacities: a problem question, an entertaining question, an entertaining task and a joke task. Their use contributes to the effective development of all structural components of cognitive capacities: a statistically significant shift was recorded in the experimental group at a significance level of p&lt;0.01, while it was absent in the control group. Conclusion. The author’s concept of children’s cognitive capacities is formulated; a model of cognitive capacities component structure in senior preschool children was developed; preschool children’s specific skills for each substantive component of cognitive capacities were identified; the expediency of using problem situations in mathematics for the development of intellection processes as one of the components of senior preschool children’s cognitive capacities was experimentally proved.

자연 친화 실내외놀이를 통한 유아교사의 ‘자기되기’ 그리고 ‘교사되기’

This study was commenced as an attempt to illuminate the relationship between children’s play patterns and teachers’ personal lives in nature-friendly play by the revised Nuri Curriculum based on Deleuze’s philosophical perspective. The research had been conducted for three years from 2022 with a teacher with 10 years of experience and 5 year-old children in a private kindergarten located in S city. The researcher observed the development of children’s play patterns and conducted observations and interviews with the teacher. This study was also intended to explore how indoor and outdoor play spaces are formed and evolved in creation and extinction, focusing on the flexibility of children’s play and the teacher-child interactions. The basic data including teachers' reflective journals, play videos, teacher interviews, and anecdotal record were analyzed through the post-qualification research method. As the result of this study, the life history and beliefs of a teacher as well as her thoughts based on educational philosophy were found to have a vivid effect on teacher’s flexibility and nomadic characteristics in children’s play. This result is considered to be very significant in exploring the teachers’ attitudes and support required in children’s free and creative play that the revised Nuri Curriculum aims for.

Phonological Memory in 5 to 6 Year-Old Korean Children

Objectives: Phonological memory plays a crucial role in speech and language development, especially in the stages when children learn new vocabulary. This study aims to investigate phonological memory using three different tasks believed to tap into phonological memory in 5 to 6 year-old Korean children, and examine the relationships among the three tasks and between phonological memory and vocabulary skills. Methods: Forty-two typically developing Korean children aged 5-6 years completed nonword repetition (NWR), sentence repetition (SRT), and picture pointing tasks, as well as the Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Test (REVT). Children’s correct responses were analyzed from each memory task and compared to examine whether the two age groups show different performances. Children’s responses from SRT were examined by two scoring systems including or excluding articulation errors and their error responses in SRT were analyzed in detail. Results: Significantly higher correct response ratios were observed in 6-year-olds compared to 5-year-olds in the three phonological memory tasks, excluding correct item ratios of SRT. The results from error analysis of SRT showed that 5-year-olds had a significantly higher number of additions, particularly additions of grammatical morphemes. The three phonological memory tasks showed significant correlations with each other. Also, receptive and expressive vocabularies exhibited significant correlations with the three phonological memory tasks. Conclusion: The study indicated active development of phonological memory between ages 5 and 6. We addressed the components in the speech processing model that the three phonological memory tasks tapped into, and discussed their relationship with vocabulary.

Nutritional Quality of the Mid-Afternoon Snack of Schooled Children between the Ages of 3 and 12 Years in Three Areas in Spain.

The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three areas of Catalonia (Spain). A descriptive observational study collected information on habits and the mid-afternoon snack of 782 schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three cities, Barcelona, Girona, and Lleida, located in Catalonia (Spain). The children's families voluntarily agreed to complete an online questionnaire that collected information about demographic data and snacking habits in the afternoon, as well as a record of mid-afternoon snack intake over three school days. A total of 2163 mid-afternoon snacks were analyzed from a sample of 764 families with 3 to 12 year-old children. Sandwiches emerged as the most prevalent choice, accounting for 41.89%, followed by pastries at 23.86%, fruit at 14.38%, and a combination of fruit and pastries at 6.29%. Of the mid-afternoon snacks recorded, 22.19% were healthy, 20.90% were quite healthy, 12.85% were quite unhealthy, and 44.06% were unhealthy. The nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for a large majority of schooled children should be improved. It is essential to develop food education programs to improve the quality of this intake from early childhood and to consider it as an opportunity to adjust the daily dietary requirements of Spanish children.

Adaptation and content validation of measure yourself medical outcomes profile (MYMOP) for 7–11 year-old children

BackgroundThe Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) is an individualised tool designed for adults but used with children without any evidence of validation in this population. Individualised instruments are patient-specific rather than disease-specific and therefore can be applied across various health conditions. This study sought to adapt, and content validate the MYMOP for application in 7–11 year old children.MethodsThere were two main phases of the four iterations: expert consultation (three rounds) and interviews with child-parent pairs at the Outpatient clinics of a Children’s Hospital. Thematic analysis was undertaken using an inductive, interpretative approach.ResultsFour paediatricians completed the first survey, five paediatricians participated in the focus group, and four paediatric health-related quality of life (HRQOL) research experts completed the second survey. Several changes were recommended to the MYMOP by the expert groups. Twenty-five children (17 general medicine, and 8 diabetes/endocrine clinic) aged 7–11 years completed the draft paediatric MYMOP (P-MYMOP) and were interviewed. Results demonstrated that the majority of participants were able to identify their own problems and activity limitations, and all participants understood the 7-point faces scale. Most parents and children perceived that the P-MYMOP would be useful to complete before clinic appointments.ConclusionsThe P-MYMOP is the first content-validated generic individualised HRQOL measure for children 7–11 years old. Given that validation is an iterative process, further research to assess its feasibility, reliability, and construct validity is required.

Move Well, Feel Good: Feasibility and acceptability of a school-based motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health.

In response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) was developed as a school intervention using improvement of motor competence as a mechanism for promoting positive mental health. Study objectives were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MWFG and to describe changes in child-level outcomes. Five northwest England primary schools were recruited. MWFG was delivered over 10-weeks through physical education (PE) lessons, which were supplemented by optional class-time, break-time, and home activities. The intervention focused on development of 9-10 year-old children's motor competence in locomotor, object control, and stability skills, and psychosocial skills. Feasibility was evaluated against nine pre-defined criteria using surveys, interviews (teachers), and focus groups (children). Pre- and post-intervention assessments of motor competence, mental health, prosocial behaviour, wellbeing, and 24-hour movement behaviours were also completed. The five recruited schools represented 83% of the target number, 108 children consented (54% of target) with teachers recruited in all schools (100% of target). Intervention dose was reflected by 76% of the 45 scheduled PE lessons being delivered, and adherence was strong (>85% of children attending ≥75% of lessons). Positive indicators of acceptability were provided by 86% of children, 83% of PE teachers, and 90% of class teachers. Data collection methods were deemed acceptable by 91% of children and 80% of class teachers, and children spoke positively about participating in the data collection. Child-level outcome data collection was completed by 65%-97% of children, with a 3%-35% attrition rate at post-intervention, depending on measure. Favourable changes in motor competence (+13.7%), mental health difficulties (-8.8%), and prosocial behaviour (+7.6%) were observed. MWFG is an acceptable and feasible motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health. Content and delivery modifications could inform progression to a pilot trial with a more robust design.