Issue Date: August 19, 2007

Parents: Keep your kids safe and sound

The experts behind SeeMore's Playhouse on PBS offer advice to help parents put their children at the head of the class -- safely.

By Peggy Noonan

1. Carpool wisely
Seat belts, we know, are helpful only if we use them. So teach kids that "it's unacceptable to get into a car without a child seat or child restraint," says Carl R. Baum, M.D. Eventually, buckling up will become second nature.

Always use your own safety belt, and appoint one child as the "safety monitor" who makes sure that everyone is strapped in and stays that way.

Also, look for vehicle safety features like air bags and electronic stability control, or ESC. A recent University of Michigan study reported that ESC reduced the risk of fatal rollovers by 40% in cars and 73% in SUVs and cut the risk of non-fatal loss-of-control accidents by 55% and 70%, respectively.

2. Sleep well
Getting sufficient shut-eye is critical to children's health. Unfortunately, most kids don't "sleep like a baby." A 2004 poll by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that 69% of children ages 10 and under periodically have sleep problems -- insomnia, nightmares, snoring. Here, tips to help ensure their restful sleep:

Stick to a regular bedtime.
Establish a soothing lights-out routine: a warm bath, then storytelling.
Avoid intense activities and heavy meals late in the evening.
Banish the TV. Children who have one in their room -- 43% of school-age kids do -- nod off about 20 minutes later and are more likely to sleep less than those with TV-free bedrooms.

3. Play more
Physical activity burns off extra energy and contributes to a child's cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that kids participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate activity on most days. Enroll them in an organized sport, or join them outside for playtime.

Heading to the playground? Look for rubber mats or shredded tire material that can soften impact on the ground, Baum says. Other sound surfaces: sand, wood chips or mulch.

4. Stress less
"Stress is particularly bad on the first few days of school," says Andrew Weil, M.D., director of integrative medicine at the University of Arizona and best-selling author. It can cause upset stomach, cold hands or a racing heart. His remedy: Have kids "sit down, close their eyes and take 10 deep, slow, quiet breaths."

5. Stay germ-free
Besides sharpened pencils, make room for hand sanitizer in your kid's backpack. David Markenson, M.D., an adviser to the Red Cross, recommends gel formulas over hand wipes. Children should use the sanitizer or wash up with soap after covering their mouths to cough or sneeze (and after going to the bathroom and before eating). Doing so may substantially reduce their number of colds.

6. Eat right
"The most useful thing to do [to improve your kids' nutrition] is to send them off with healthy snacks, lunches and information about what kinds of food are good and what kinds aren't," Weil says. Nutritionist Keri Glassman suggests packing turkey with mustard on a whole-grain pita or "sandwich sushi" -- hummus topped with red pepper and cucumber on a whole-grain tortilla, rolled up and cut into pieces.

If your children pack their own lunches, PB&J is a good option. Just keep natural peanut (or almond) butter and all-fruit spreads on hand. And if they are cafeteria-bound, encourage them to select items with the fewest ingredients on the label. Junk food occasionally will end up on their trays, so serve healthful meals at home. Studies show that families who sit down for meals together eat more nutritiously than those who don't.

About Seemore & Co.
USA Weekend turned to the members on the advisory board of SeeMore's Playhouse -- an Emmy Award-winning children's TV series that focuses on safety and healthy living -- for the tips on this page.

Want more ideas? Tune in to the second season, beginning in September. SeeMore the Safety Seal tackles the dangers of electricity, the importance of brushing your teeth and how to safely ride in a car.

Go to seemoresplayhouse.com to check for showtimes in your area.