Children and adolescent development and health – watercress words by Dr Aletha

April is one of the four months with only 30 days. (Do you know the other three?)

The United States has no federal holidays in April. The closest day that might be considered a holiday is April Fool’s Day and I’m not fooling. From what I’ve read, the true origin of this strange observance is unknown, but there are many theories. Just be careful who and what you believe on April 1.

Religious Observances in April

Due to Ash Wednesday coming so early in 2024, the Christian observance of Easter occurred on the last day in March, rather than in April as it often is.

The Jewish faith observes Passover and Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, in April 2024.

World Autism Month

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States today.

We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges.

How people with autism learn, think, and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live independently.

In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.

Since then many governments, organizations, and agencies also highlight autism during April, with some choosing to call it Autism Acceptance Month.

“Awareness is knowing that somebody has autism,”

“Acceptance is when you include (a person with autism) in your activities. Help (them) to develop in that community and get that sense of connection to other people.”
Christopher Banks, president and CEO of The Autism Society of America.

This post I published in 2017 was one of the top 5 most viewed for that year.

A Different Way of Seeing Autism- a book review

“Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism” by Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP offers insights into understanding and living with autism. The book promotes a person-centered approach, emphasizing the importance of engaging, building self-esteem, and fostering joyful experiences for individuals with autism. Dr. Prizant advocates for working with their strengths rather than focusing on…

Keep reading

Remembering our home, planet Earth

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

Earth Day, April 22, 2024

For the first Earth Day in 1970, millions of Americans from all walks of life joined to start the modern environmental movement. Since then, Earth Day has grown into the largest civic event engaging billions of people from 192 countries to safeguard our planet and fight for a brighter future.

For Earth Day 2024 on April 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG is committed to ending plastics for human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.

How much do you know about our Earth? Test your knowledge!

Take an Earth Day Quiz

In a previous post, I reviewed a book by Dr. Goodall about how taking care of our planet helps us.

Dr Jane Goodall’s Harvest for Hope- a book review

Jane Goodall wants us to manage stress , not so much our own, but the stress of our planet, by producing, transporting, preparing, and eating our food in ways less harmful and wasteful to us and our planet.

Keep reading

December 10, 2019January 24, 2024

Arbor Day, April 26, 2024

In 19th century North America, pioneers began moving west into the Nebraska Territory. They missed the trees they left behind and lacked trees as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun.

On January 4, 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday called “Arbor Day” at the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture meeting.

Today Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states. The most common date for the state observance is the last Friday in April — National Arbor Day — but in some states, Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather, from January and February in the south to May in the far north.

While Nebraska City, NE, is the official birthplace of the Arbor Day holiday, communities around the globe gather every year to celebrate trees and plant for a greener tomorrow. Find out when countries all over the world gather together to plant and celebrate trees.

gold memorial chairs by reflecting pool — Trees were planted at the site of the Murrah Federal Building terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City, OK, April 19, 1995; now a memorial and museum; photo by Dr. Aletha

Old Farmer’s Almanac 2024

Do you know what an almanac is? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an almanac is

a publication containing astronomical and meteorological data for a given year and often including a miscellany of other information
a usually annual publication containing statistical, tabular, and general information

For many people, the almanac is synonymous with The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the oldest in the USA—started when George Washington was president (1789-1797).

Each edition calculates the tides and times for fishermen, travelers, sailors, bookkeepers, beekeepers, gardeners, prognosticators, pollsters, politicians, cooks, and anyone who walks this Earth, including farmers. There are useful tools—sunrise and sunset times, weather predictions, planting calendars, Moon phase dates, and reference tables.

“Our main endeavour is to be useful, but with a pleasant degree of humor.”
Robert B Thomas, Founder

If you are a gardener you may rely on this or another almanac to know what and when to plant flowers and vegetables where you live.

2024 Planting Calendar: When to Plant Vegetables

In this archive post, I discuss plant-based eating and share some books and online resources.

Surprising health benefits of plant based eating

The post introduces two influential books and associated websites advocating for whole plant-based unprocessed foods. “The China Study” demonstrates the link between nutrition and major diseases, while “How Not to Die” proposes dietary changes to prevent and reverse diseases. These resources recommend whole foods, plant-based diets and provide evidence-based guides and recipes for healthy eating.

Keep reading

July 25, 2019March 15, 2024

exploring the HEART of health in April

Did you guess the other three months with 30 days? They are June, September, and November.

I’d love to have you join me for my next post where I share more information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

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Medical stethoscope and heart on a textured background

Dr Aletha

HUMAN BODY

Learning Lab

Take an Inside Tour of How Your Body Works

By Betty Choi, MD

https://bookshop.org/widgets.js

Human Body Learning Lab is not only a book for parents to read to their kids but an adventure they can explore with their kids.

I can identify with author Dr. Betty Choi. She is a pediatrician and mom who became intrigued with the human body and how it works from reading The Human Body book in her family’s encyclopedia set. So did I. Like me, she went on to become a physician and explained that she wrote this book for all the curious kids who ask her questions. (Similarly, I started writing this blog.)

Head-to-toe teaching

Dr. Choi has produced an easy-to-understand, biologically accurate, visually appealing guide to the human body. From the colorful table of contents to the ending invitation to “Learn More” on the website, Dr. Choi covers the human body from head to toe, and from inside out.

the table of contents

The Learning Lab explains in text and colorful, detailed, clearly labeled drawings the structure and function of the body’s organ systems. The author explains genetics, DNA, the five senses, and the immune system.

Hands-on learning

Perhaps unique to this book are the hands-on activities that help kids understand what they’ve read. There are 27 of these learning activities, ranging from making models of DNA and a lung, testing the sun’s power, understanding the power of soap, and “How fast can you catch this?”.

Using two plastic bottles and flexible straws, a funnel, and an assortment of craft supplies, kids can make a model illustrating the kidneys. In a partner activity, they try challenging each other, blindfolded, to identify unknown foods by taste and smell only.

I even learned something. Did you know there are 5 tastes, not just 4? They are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Umami is a Japanese term meaning “savory deliciousness.”

What parents should know

There is a disclaimer that the activities be done with adult supervision. Asses the potential for allergic reactions from the materials used. There is also a general medical disclaimer not to use the book’s information for diagnosis or treatment, rather consult a healthcare professional.

Content Alert: The book addresses reproduction by stating “to make a new baby, male and female reproductive organs work together. A sperm from the testicles combines with an egg from the ovaries.” One of the activities involves making a Play-Dough Embryo. Parents are left to explain how the egg and sperm get together in the first place.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a valuable resource for parents and teachers.

According to Amazon, this book is written at a third to seventh-grade level, and parents say this book is appropriate for kids 5 to 9 years old.

Betty Choi, MD

Dr. Choi also founded the Chalk Academy. She credits many people with helping create this book. Her physician husband worked overtime and children, Isabel and Noah tested each activity. Physician colleagues provided feedback.

The art direction and book design was done by Alethea Morrison. ( I love finding someone whose name is so similar to mine.)

About the project, Dr. Choi wrote

It truly took a village to bring this passion project to life, and I thank God for bringing together many wonderful people.

The book is published by Storey Publishing whose mission is

To serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.

“Thank you NetGalley and publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”

Learn more at the book’s website Human Body Learning.

exploring the HEART of health through books

HUMAN BODY is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org at these affiliate links and you can probably find it at your local library or your child’s school. If they don’t have it, ask them to obtain it.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. They believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good. Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.

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