THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
Oct. 9, 2020
Here is a quick look at some headlines from this week impacting the lives of kids 0-5 and their families. The purpose of these stories is simply to inform, and they do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support or efforts towards these issues.

Follow First 5 Kern on social media (@First5Kern) for more kids news, as well as information about our funded programs and initiatives.

Now for the headlines........

PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH
One in four pregnant women with COVID-19 may have
lingering illness
Pregnant people frequently fare far worse than the greater public during outbreaks of infectious disease. In the early days of the novel coronavirus pandemic, what little information trickled out about SARS-CoV-2 largely overlooked this high-risk group.

Now, in the largest analysis of its kind to date, a recent study is filling in some of those blanks. They found that COVID-19 symptoms lingered in many of the study participants, which included 594 pregnant or recently pregnant people, most of whom were not hospitalized. (National Geographic)
Why are so few drugs tested for safety in pregnancy?

An analysis of 927 Covid-19 clinical trials across Asia, Europe, and North America found more than half explicitly excluded pregnant women. Only 16 trials — less than 2 percent — were pregnancy-specific, meaning they aimed to evaluate a treatment's effects on fetuses and expectant mothers.

This means that there will be a gap in the medical community's understanding of how commonly effective treatments perform during pregnancy. (Salon)
High levels of folic acid during pregnancy can harm brain development

A UC Davis MIND Institute study of pregnant mice found that high amounts of folic acid during pregnancy harmed the brain development of embryos. Researchers say the findings indicate that more investigation is needed about the best recommended dosage for pregnant women.

"It's not subtle," said one of the study's authors. "It's substantial. It makes a marked difference in brain structure if you take very high amounts of folic acid." (News-Medical)

PARENTING & FAMILIES
It's impossibly hard to be a baby or toddler in some parts
of the country
A new report released by the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center looked at the myriad ways in which life differs for mothers, infants and toddlers in America and the disparities families face.

They found children have drastically different experiences in the early years based on the state in which they live, in part due to wide variations in policies and strategies that are in place in each state to support families. (Hechinger Report)
How to help your child develop fine motor skills

Fine motor skills include activities that require small muscles in the hand that need concentration and precision. They involve the small muscles of the body that enable such functions as writing, grasping small objects, and fastening clothing. They involve strength, fine motor control, and dexterity."

Learning fine moto skills is very important. As the toddler becomes more confident in their fine motor abilities they will be able to do things with more control, speed, and precision. (BabyGaga)
How perfection and anxiety can lead to helicopter parenting

Research on the negative effects of over-parenting shows it can lead to psychological distress, narcissism, poor adjustment, alcohol and drug use and a host of other behavioral problems in young adults. But why do some parents teach their children to fish and others feed their children fish? 

In a new study, researchers sought to find out what is at the core of hovering parents. (Forbes)

CHILDREN'S HEALTH
California children often miss out on services because of labyrinth state system
In California, parents who suspect their child has a developmental delay often wait months or even years to get a formal diagnosis and to obtain services, according to research by the First 5 Center for Children’s Policy.

By the time these children receive treatment — which is often contingent upon getting a diagnosis — they may have missed out on a critical window of time during which interventions for disorders such as autism or Rett’s Syndrome can be most effective. And these delays have likely become more acute during the pandemic. (Mercury News)
U.S. ranks near the bottom of advanced nations in child wellness

The United States ranks near the bottom of dozens of advanced nations in terms of the well-being of its children, according to a report published by UNICEF with data from 38 advanced countries before the coronavirus epidemic.

The United States was No. 36. But the report noted that in many of the advanced nations on the list, children are not doing well; in fact, in nearly half, more than 1 in 5 children live in poverty. (Washington Post)
What is SIDS, and how can it be prevented?

Infant death isn't a topic that's easy to talk about. SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is a terrible and mysterious condition that is responsible for thousands of infant deaths per year in the United States. And what makes SIDS feel especially frightening for parents is that it seems to strike without warning.

But the good news is that with attention to some precautions and guidelines, the risk of SIDS can be reduced significantly. (Motherly)

ACEs and Trauma-Informed Care
Reaching for resilience: addressing the traumatic foundation of Humbolt's health problems
While it was evident that too many Humboldt County children were experiencing trauma, a study from the Center for Youth Wellness study quantified it, finding Humboldt and Mendocino counties combined to have the highest rate of adverse childhood experiences scores in California, with about 75 percent of residents having experienced one or more of these childhood traumas.

That far outpaces trauma rates in other areas, like Los Angeles County, where 61 percent of residents had experienced one or more ACEs. But more troubling was the study's finding that 30 percent of Humboldt and Mendocino residents have experienced four or more ACEs (North Coast Journal)
5 Ways trauma and poverty affect childhood development
Poverty, neglect, housing instability, violence, food insecurity and separation from parents all affect childhood development – and thus, lifelong health. Although children are born ready to learn and grow, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur in youth resulting in toxic stress.

And that toxic stress from ACEs can literally change how the brain develops and affect how the body responds to stress as one ages. However, prevention of ACEs can go a long way in improving health throughout life. (Forbes)

EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
How a national child care policy can help struggling parents
Over the years, both Republicans and Democrats have come up with child care policy ideas, but little progress has been made at the national level.

Between remote working, distance learning and an affordable child care shortage that predates the pandemic, American parents are feeling squeezed. And that burden is hitting working moms especially hard. (Minnesota Public Radio)
How long does the preschool advantage last?

Children who attend preschool enter kindergarten with greater skills than those who don't, but that advantage is nearly halved by the end of the year as their counterparts quickly begin to catch up, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

"What our findings appear to suggest is that (children's) longer-term outcomes are likely to be affected by factors that are outside the scope of early schooling," said the study's lead author. (ScienceDaily)
Outdoor classes and "Forest Schools" gain prominence over distance learning struggles

Stomping through puddles, scrambling over fallen logs and digging in the dirt with sticks are core parts of the curriculum in “forest schools," an immersive outdoor education model devoted to the exploration of nature.

Can these outdoor schools offer lessons to other preschools and K-12 public schools at a time when being indoors is so risky? (EdSource)
...about First 5 Kern
First 5 Kern was established in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a 50-cent tax on tobacco products. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax are used to fund local programs in the areas of health and wellness, early childcare and education, and parent education and support services that promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five.

For more information on First 5 Kern and the agencies we support, please visit www.First5Kern.org and follow us on social media.
Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics