A little more than a year ago, Dr. Meg West, a member of our board at the Memphis Pink Palace Museum suggested I take a look at an exhibit at The Urban Child Institute about the development of a child's brain. On Tuesday a user-friendly, highly interactive version of a portion of that exhibit will debut at the Pink Palace.
This month The Urban Child Institute will release the eighth edition of the Data Book: The State of Children in Memphis and Shelby County.
Most of us have heard that the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically. The rate has tripled in the past 30 years. The consequences of obesity are grim for children and adults, including health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Obesity is also associated with psychosocial difficulties like bullying, discrimination, anxiety and depression.
The term fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) refers to the most severe permanent effects of a child's exposure to alcohol while in the mother's womb, including mental retardation, abnormal physical appearance and behavior, and extreme limitation of normal lifetime capabilities. Less extreme effects of fetal alcohol exposure may include permanent brain damage plus lifelong behavioral, educational and socialization problems; these are referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. (FASD)
At this time of year, I still find some holiday movies irresistible because of their "holiday magic" themes. As a grizzled 53-year-old, I still want some happiness and magic in my consciousness. And I'm not alone. Who can resist the "I believe, I believe" theme of "Miracle on 34th Street," or "George Bailey, the richest man in town!" from "It's a Wonderful Life" — a paean to gratitude and counting our blessings?
The mission of The Urban Child Institute is to increase understanding of the importance of brain development in the first three years of a child's life.
