Latest news with #IvanhoeNewswire
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Your Best Life: The Deadly Bite
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Longer, hotter summers and shifting weather patterns — fueled by a warming planet — are bringing about more than just sunshine and higher temperatures. Mosquitoes are thriving earlier and later and are spreading to new areas as rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns create the perfect conditions for these pests to multiply. Mosquito-borne illnesses, such as West Nile Virus, affect thousands of Americans each year, with the CDC reporting over 2,000 cases or West Nile alone annually. They're small, bloodthirsty, and sometimes even deadly. And you might not know as much about mosquitoes as you think. First, how many different types are there? If you guessed 150, wrong! There are actually 3,700 types of mosquitoes! True or false: mosquitoes only spread disease in tropical climates? False! 'Now we're starting to see them in other places,' said Desiree LaBeaud, MD, MS, professor of pediatric infectious disease at Stanford University. According to the CDC, diseases like West Nile and dengue fever have been reported in almost every state. 'The ones that spread dengue and chikungunya and Zika and yellow fever, really like it hot. So as the climate warms, they just are better and better at spreading disease,' explained Dr. LaBeaud. And it doesn't take much for them to multiply. Just a single tablespoon of standing water can become a breeding ground. 'The dog dishes, the flowerpots, just that little bit of water can actually breed these mosquitoes and potentially make you sick,' Dr. LaBeaud told Ivanhoe. So, how can you protect your kids? Doctors say to drain outside standing water once a week, use EPA approved insect repellent containing 20-30% DEET, there will be an EPA registration number on the back of the bottle, and also, wear protective clothing. 'You can wear long sleeves, long pants. If you notice a lot of dead birds around your neighborhood, that's a signal that West Nile may be circulating, so contact your mosquito control board,' Dr. LaBeaud stated. If your child has a high fever, rash, or joint pain after a mosquito bite, see a doctor right away. Symptoms of mosquito-borne illnesses can range from mild fever to severe brain infections. Parents should also check the EPA website to ensure their child's insect repellent is safe and appropriate for their age. Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Joe Alexander, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor. Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). To receive a free weekly e-mail on positive parenting from Ivanhoe, sign up at: Sources: If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ Sponsored by AGEWELL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Your Best Life: Supporting Children Through Trauma
NEWTON, Mass. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Trauma can leave deep scars on children, impacting them in ways that aren't always visible. But how children react to trauma varies from child to child. Families and communities are navigating the healing process and help children build resilience for the future. Every day, children face experiences that can change their lives. 'Trauma appears to be very different, has very different signs and symptoms depending on the age of the child,' said developmental psychologist Jessica Dym Bartlett, PhD. Younger children may become clingy or lose skills. Older kids may withdraw or show anger. 'It affects their brain development directly, affects their ability to handle stress and cope with stress in the future,' Bartlett explained. Parents play a key role in healing. 'So, it has a lot to do with how parents self-regulate, and it has to do with creating positive experiences, keeping their children busy, helping them to self-regulate, meaning manage their own emotions,' said Bartlett. Start by validating your child's feelings, let them know they are safe and that they are not alone. And beyond family support, communities play a crucial role. In crisis situations — whether it's a natural disaster or a violent incident at home — first responders are often the first point of contact. That's why many police departments are now working with trauma-informed specialists. 'When there's kids involved, sometimes they don't have the training or just the time to really address the trauma that the child may be facing. So that's where we can step in,' said Haydi Franco, project director for the Trauma-Informed Policing Center. These liaisons don't just respond in moments of crisis — they also help families prepare for future emergencies. 'They bring that calming factor when they come into the households,' said police officer Wally Pognon. That early support can be the first step in helping a child rebuild their sense of safety and control. But the most important thing parents can do? Provide consistency — making sure their children feel supported, heard, and safe as they process their trauma. Experts emphasize the importance of preparing children emotionally for potential future events, like hurricanes or wildfires, which are now exacerbated by a warming climate, by discussing emergency plans and reinforcing coping skills. Parents can help by involving children in simple preparedness activities — such as packing an emergency kit, identifying safe meeting places, and role-playing different scenarios. Teaching kids basic problem-solving skills and helping them develop a sense of control over their environment can reduce anxiety and build resilience. Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor. Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). To receive a free weekly e-mail on positive parenting from Ivanhoe, sign up at: If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ Sponsored by AGEWELL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Your Best Life: From Grass to Groceries
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 17 million Americans live in food deserts where it's difficult for families to find fresh, affordable produce. Experts warn it is only getting worse. Rising temperatures damaging crops, inflating prices, and pushing families deeper into food insecurity. But now, communities are getting their hands dirty to solve the problem. In the middle of the city, neighbors are turning lawns into urban micro farms. And they're doing it all with practically zero fossil fuels! Fleet farming is not only feeding families but growing resilience and hope. They plant, they ride. They weed; they ride. They harvest; and they ride. This is fleet farming. 'We could easily grow more than 500 pounds of produce in this bed,' explained fleet farming farm manager Bevin Rogers standing over a long bed of lettuce. It's a patchwork of 13 lawns turned into micro farms right in the middle of the city. 'That's a bike pedal powered urban food program where we farm places, especially food deserts and help to create a source of local produce,' biologist & IDEAS for US CEO Clayton Lewis Ferrara told Ivanhoe. Fleet farming is a flagship program of IDEAS for Us, an eco-action organization. In 10 years, it has converted over 176,000 square feet of lawns, harvested nearly 18,000 pounds of produce, educated 32,000 volunteers, and fed 9,000 locals. 'We're now able to give our food away to four schools who are in food desert areas,' said Rogers. But volunteers grow more than just greens — they're planting roots, connection, and resilience. 'In a study of more than 10,000 kids around the world, 60 percent of them are experiencing eco anxieties. But thankfully what we have found is children who are involved in community actions to address some of these environmental issues are less likely to have depression and anxiety,' stated Megan Ennes, PhD, assistant curator of museum education of the Florida Museum & director of the Thompson Earth Systems Institute. From anxiety to agency — experts say when families work side by side, building solutions — they cultivate emotional resilience. 'So, families can work together within their communities and not just we hope the world is going to get better, but productive hope that we are working together to make our planet better,' Ennes told Ivanhoe. And that hope is taking root. 'It helps people to better believe in themselves and better understand their community and understand how to organize for action, which is really important skills,' said Ferrara. 'Groceries are kind of expensive, so it just felt like an opportunity to really help, but in a way that's really sustainable,' explained Kiana, a volunteer. 'It's great and honestly I feel like I'm doing it with purpose,' said Sharon Salazar, another volunteer. Through hands-on work, families are learning where food comes from — and where change starts. Fleet farming is just one local example of a global movement. As part of IDEAS for US, similar eco-action branches in more than 30 countries are helping communities identify their biggest environmental challenges — and then take hands-on steps to solve them. From food deserts to climate resilience, it's a model for change that starts right at home. Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor. Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). To receive a free weekly e-mail on positive parenting from Ivanhoe, sign up at: Sources: Environmental Solutions Incubator | IDEAS For Us | Sustainability Fleet Farming – Home Page If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ Sponsored by AGEWELL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Your Best Life: Screen Smarts
SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — In today's digital world, it's easy for kids to consume endless hours of screen time. But what are they watching? And how can parents make sure their teens and preteens are not consuming too much of the wrong type of media — especially when it comes to important but complex issues happening around the world like war, politics, violence, and natural disasters? One approach experts suggest is putting families on a 'media diet.' Ten-year-old Rowan McGill and her mom, Kendra Machado McGill, use crafting to unplug. 'I'm not a big TV person. I'm more of like, let's go do a craft or go outside,' said Kendra. One concern is increased eco-anxiety caused by the 24-hour news cycle. 'We know from research that children and young adults feel fear, hopelessness, despair when we bring up climate change. We want them to feel empowered. We want them to feel like collectively they can do things to help our Earth,' explained Sara Sweetman, PhD, Education Scientist at the University of Rhode Island. Experts say setting early media habits helps. First, focus on quality over quantity by setting daily screen limits, creating screen-free zones during meals, and unplugging one-hour before bedtime. Use resources like to find age-appropriate shows. 'We do know that co-watching TV with your child and talking with them about what they're seeing has really positive educational outcomes,' Prof. Sweetman told Ivanhoe. Use built-in parental controls on streaming services. Enable safe search settings on Google and YouTube. Use content monitoring apps like Bark, Qustodio, or Norton Family that allow you to track what your child watches. And most importantly, talk with your child about what they are learning. As for Rowan, screen time is fun — but with her mom's guidance, it's also safe and balanced. Experts say parents should watch for signs of media anxiety in kids, like recurring nightmares or hyper-focus on news stories. The key? Talk with kids about what they watch, help them process difficult topics, and make screen time just one part of a healthy daily routine. Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor. Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). To receive a free weekly e-mail on positive parenting from Ivanhoe, sign up at: If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ Sponsored by AGEWELL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Your Best Life: Allergies, Heat & Lyme Disease
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Our changing climate is creating new health risks for children — longer allergy seasons, extreme heat affecting young athletes, and Lyme disease spreading to new areas. As these threats grow, parents and pediatricians need to be proactive in protecting children's health and well-being. Spring is in the air, bringing with it the sneezes and sniffles of allergy season! Spring allergies are hitting sooner and harder than ever before. 'Spring is coming earlier, winter's coming later. Now that means that plants are growing longer and they're producing pollen also for a longer period of time,' said UVA School of Medicine pediatrician Samantha Ahdoot, MD. She is a leading expert on how our changing climate impacts children's health. She says for most of the country, spring allergy season is hitting 20 days earlier. But that's not all. 'Things are appearing in new places where they didn't used to like, like Lyme disease, is now marching its way up North America,' Dr. Ahdoot told Ivanhoe. Rising temperatures are allowing deadly warm water bacteria to migrate as far north as Nebraska — posing a growing risk to swimmers and marine bacteria is also causing issues for seafood consumers. And extreme heat is also causing more cases of heat stroke being reported across the country. Also, at risk — expectant moms. 'Extreme heat can increase the risk of babies being born too early on preterm birth,' stated Dr. Ahdoot. As pollen lingers longer, track pollen counts, use air purifiers and have your kids change their clothes after playing outdoors. As temps continue to rise, keep kids hydrated, wear sunblock and practice sports indoors on extreme heat days. As for tick protection, dress kids in long sleeves and pants, use insect repellent and routinely check for ticks. Another growing health risk is pollution from wildfires. In addition to causing respiratory issues in children, Dr Ahdoot points to emerging research linking wildfire smoke exposure to higher rates of autism. On days with poor air quality, it's important to take extra precautions — keep your children indoors whenever possible to reduce their exposure. Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor. Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). To receive a free weekly e-mail on positive parenting from Ivanhoe, sign up at: If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ Sponsored by AGEWELL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
