A University of Otago-hosted briefing says New Zealand’s food environment is driving chronic disease and calls for a levy on sugary drinks alongside wider measures to make healthy choices more affordable. New Zealand has one of the highest obesity rates…
From counting spoons to retelling stories, simple games and daily tasks can help preschoolers develop language, maths, coordination and confidence without expensive toys or formal lessons. Play-based learning can do far more than keep preschool children occupied. It can help…
Child specialists urge parents to offer honest, age-appropriate explanations, limit disturbing media and preserve familiar routines when conflict reaches the news or daily life. Parents confronted with conflict in the news, or with the sharp sounds and disruptions that come…
Judicial police have raided the offices of the Bandim Health Project and seized vaccine doses as officials seek clarity over a controversial trial involving newborns. Judicial police in Guinea-Bissau have raided the offices of a controversial vaccine research team and…
A randomised trial found children born to women given phosphatidylcholine during pregnancy scored higher on cognitive tests and showed fewer social-behaviour difficulties, although researchers say larger studies are needed. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz say a prenatal nutritional…
Research and expert guidance suggest that structured, adaptable activities can improve motor skills and confidence for autistic children, but inclusive coaching and sensory-aware environments are crucial. For many parents, the question is not whether a child with autism can take…
A 34-country analysis finds the impact of ADHD is greatest in early adolescence, with boys most affected and major differences between Asian regions. A new analysis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across Asia suggests that the condition’s disability burden is not evenly…
New studies suggest probiotics can reduce necrotising enterocolitis in very preterm infants, but the benefits depend on choosing the right strains and ensuring rigorous manufacturing quality. The argument over probiotics in very preterm infants is moving from theory towards practice,…
Health officials have urged doctors to watch for measles in pregnancy after an outbreak spanning 39 Pennsylvania counties produced an unusually high number of cases and reported congenital infections in newborns. Pennsylvania health officials have warned doctors to watch for…
A low-cost, nurse-led game reduced anxiety at operating-room entry, improved co-operation during anaesthesia and was linked to fewer behavioural problems after discharge in a trial in China. A simple card game led by a trained nurse may help ease the…
