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TMCNet: Protect kids' eyes from winter sun

[January 18, 2010]

Protect kids' eyes from winter sun

Jan 18, 2010 (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Each winter, parents pull out the outer coats, hats, scarves, gloves and boots to properly protect their children from the cold, but what about protecting their children's eyes from the sun? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, sunglasses are needed not just for sunny summer days, but during the winter season when reflections from snow, water, sand or pavement can intensify UV rays to high levels.


In addition, the sun's rays pass through haze and thin clouds, making sunglasses a necessity during the early afternoon when UV radiation is strongest, and a must when participating in winter sports, particularly at high altitudes.

Exposure to UV-A and UV-B sunlight can lead to irreversible retinal damage resulting in eye disease and even blindness. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children's eyes are at increased risk for permanent damage from sunlight until they are at least 10 years old, because their eyes are sensitive and still developing. About 90 percent of total lifetime damage from the sun's harmful rays occurs by age 18.

Only 32 percent of parents protect the vulnerable eyes of their infants, toddlers and children with sunglasses.

Real Kids Shades line of protective infants' and children's sunglasses provides 100 percent UV-A and UV-B ray protection, as recommended by Prevent Blindness America.

"As a parent who couldn't find decent sunglasses for my own kids, Real Kids Shades were developed to be both durable -- to withstand kids' lifestyles -- and great-looking, so that kids will want to wear them," says David Scheinberg, CEO for Real Kids Shades.

The Real Kids Shades are designed for children 12 and younger and have shatterproof frames and lenses with adjustable neoprene bands, rubber flex or polycarbonate frames. They sell for $14.99 to $19.99. For more information, visit www.realkidshades.com.

Students can enter art contest The search is on for the top artists in the 2010 Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest.

In 2009, Nathan Doverspike from Highlands High School in Natrona Heights and Kerri Silbaugh from Monart School of Art were among 12 nationwide winners.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade are welcome to submit designs for Heinz Ketchup packets.

For the first time in contest history, a grand-prize winner's artwork will appear on approximately 2.5 million Heinz Ketchup bottles on store shelves, and the student will receive a $5,700 cash prize.

Twelve winners again will be selected, one in each grade category, by voting online at www.KetchupCreativity.com. Each winner's artwork will be printed on approximately 20 million Heinz Ketchup packets and they'll receive a $1,000 cash prize. The winners' schools each will receive $1,000 toward art supplies, a voucher for $1,000 worth of Heinz Ketchup and a poster of the winner's artwork.

Download the contest kit and lesson plans at www.KetchupCreativity.com. Entry deadline is Feb. 26. Online voting will be March 22 through 27.

Early treatment might help stutterers Parents who notice their young child beginning to stutter should seek help right away, according to the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation of Memphis.

According to a major new study conducted by the Australian Stuttering Research Centre and published in the British Medical Journal, children ages 3 to 6 who received early treatment reduced their stuttering by 77 percent, compared with a drop of just 43 percent among a second group of children who were not treated.

To help parents gain a better understanding of stuttering, the Foundation offers free streaming video of "Stuttering and Your Child: Help for Parents" at their Web site, www.stutteringhelp.org. The site also offers a worldwide referral list to specialists.

Call the help line at 800-992-9392, email info@stutteringhelp.org, or visit the Web.

Send parenting news to Coping With Kids in care of Rebecca Killian, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, D.L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212; fax 412-320-7966; or e-mail rkillian@tribweb.com.

To see more of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/. Copyright (c) 2010, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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