Pop Art will never die and the motifs from one of Pop’s greatest hero artists, Andy Warhol will be forever inspiration for clothing companies, latest to use his iconic imagery is Pepe Jeans whose children’s fashion collection features T-shirts and printed textiles in the summer 2011 collection.

The bright almost flourescent colours of the originals are actually well suited to the strong colour trends coming through for next summer and it is a way especially for boyswear to use colour in a childlike but also stylish manner. The Warhol theme is also throughout the adult mens and womens range but there it has been muted with the use of lots of black and white stripes and prints and colour is kept to sudden splash rather than all out.

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I was disappointed to see Susan Bird Charnley’s Oct. 12 letter responding to Robert Friedman’s Oct. 10 Local Opinions piece on bullying. “Grow a backbone and deal”? Being bullied for anything that makes a child feel self-conscious — coming from a dysfunctional family and having low self-esteem, not having  “trendy” clothes, being smaller or less adept at sports, being effeminate or shy, having a disability — does nothing but call more attention to an issue with which a child already has embarrassment or guilt. Bullies gang together; the bullied are alone.

Recent suicides by bullying victims show that bullying must be legislated and that the bullies and their parents should be held responsible. Calling cruelty “human nature” is shortsighted and lacks compassion and understanding.

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More than half of parents say their kids have access to the parents’ prescription drugs, and one in seven say they’ve given their children prescription pain medication that wasn’t prescribed to the kids. That’s according to a survey of 300 Massachusetts parents with children aged 12 to 25, which was released today during a briefing at the Massachusetts State House.

“Prescription drug abuse is of critical concern in the Commonwealth and is a top priority for our Committee,” Representative Liz Malia (D-Boston), House chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, said in a news release.

The survey was conducted by the Partnership at Drugfree.org, a nonprofit educational organization that provides resources to parents who suspect that their child is abusing drugs or alcohol. The briefing marked the statewide roll-out of the Partnership’s Time To Act community education program, funded by Purdue Pharma, which has already been implement in Lynn, South Boston, Dorchester and Lowell.

“The survey findings are alarming and indicate that parents are often providing prescription drugs to their kids in an improper and dangerous manner,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. “Add to that their acknowledgment that their children have ready access to potentially dangerous pain relievers, and we have a high-risk situation in homes across the Commonwealth.”

More people in Massachusetts die from fatal overdoses than from car accidents each year, according to Pasierb, and an average of 12 state residents die each week from overdoses from opiod painkillers.

The survey also found that more than one-quarter of Massachusetts parents reported that they have taken prescription pain medications not prescribed for them. Nearly one-third of parents have unused pain medications at home “in case someone in the family needs them,” while only one in five have spoken to their child’s grandparents about safeguarding medicines in their homes.

Where parents keep prescription drugs can affect whether kids have access to them. Keeping pills stashed away in a hidden spot in the bedroom rather than, say, in the kitchen can help keep kids from finding them and experimenting. Some parents might need to keep their medications locked in a cabinet along with any alcohol if they know their kids will get into them.

According to Drugfree.org, the average age of first-time drug use in America is about 13-and-a-half. The group encourages parents to talk to middle-schoolers casually about drugs, rather than having a “big drug talk,” to find out if kids are hearing about drug highs from friends. As kids hit high school, parents can be more specific by asking if, say, they know about the dangerous of taking prescription painkillers like Percocet, or if anyone has gained access to them for recreational purposes.

The key, Pasierb recommended, is to have a general conversation rather than a one-sided lecture. “The net of the conversation to your kid is that you’re worried, and that this isn’t an acceptable thing in your lives and family.”

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If you are a parent, chances are you have looked around a little bit for free stuff for kids. Our children seem to grow so fast. It is almost pointless to purchase brand-new clothing for them that is not going to fit in two months. Because of this, any time we as parents have the opportunity to purchase something that is free of charge, we should take it. It does not matter whether it is clothing or toys or even a used winter sled. The fact is that there is no reason that these items cannot easily be recycled from one child to another.

If you are looking for something such as this, consider getting a large group of people together for a giant trade among everyone. Basically, everyone would bring their unwanted items to a large building and everyone could pick and choose among the items. This way, everybody would have the opportunity to clean out their closet as well and de-clutter their homes. It is also a great way for parents to get great free stuff for kids. Most kids do not care where their parents purchased their latest outfit or how much money they have and to spend on that particular item. When they are concerned with is the fact that it is something that they like to wear and it is comfortable.

If it is a toy that you are taking about when you come across free stuff for kids, your children are going to love it if it is something that they are interested in. There is no reason that we as parents should pay full price for something that we can get for free. There are discounted items everywhere we look. However, most of us seem to believe that we need to go shopping for items that are brand-new. Because there are people in the world like this, those of us who are shopping the free sales are getting all of these items without having to pay for them.

Therefore, we are going to have more money than the people who are paying 20 poundsfor a pair of shoes for their toddler who is going to outgrow them within a couple of months. With the economy the way that it has been, there are so many people who are out of work. Most of these people have children to still require their daily needs to be met. Because of this, we should all take advantage of all of the free stuff for kids that we can find. The most important thing is that your children are properly taken care of and that they know that their parents love them. After that, they usually do not care what they are wearing. Of course, just because free stuff for kids is affordable, it does not mean that it needs to be cheap. Take advantage of your friends and family who have purchased those £80 shoes for their teenager who can no longer wear them. This way, your teenager will be able to take advantage of the situation by having stylish shoes and nobody knows any different.

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Illegal immigrants in Alabama are signing documents allowing others to care for their children if the parents are arrested or deported, The Associated Press reports. Many parents are responding to the state’s tough new immigration law by seeking legal power of attorney papers so friends and other acquaintances can care for their children if they are kicked out of the country.

“People are scared, and they want to be sure their kids are safe if something happens to them,” said Jazmin Rivera, a social worker at the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama who helps Spanish-speaking immigrants with paperwork.

Cristian Gonzalez, a 28-year-old living illegally in the state, told the AP she has informally asked the manager of the rental property where she lives to care for her 10-year-old daughter, who is a U.S. citizen, if she and her husband are arrested.

“”We’re afraid to go back to Mexico because of the drugs, the cartels and the killings,” Gonzalez said. “And we are afraid to stay here because of the law.”State Sen. Scott Beason, who sponsored the law, suggested that the stories of parents signing documents to arrange for care for their children are designed to “pull on heart strings” and make people sympathetic to illegal immigrants.

The country’s toughest immigration law was passed by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, and U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn ruled last month to uphold some of the most controversial parts of the law, including the requirement for schools to verify students’ immigration status and for police to determine citizenship and status people stopped, detained or arrested.

The Obama administration on Friday filed a challenge to the law, asking an appeals court to block enforcement of the controversial measure. The law is “highly likely to expose persons lawfully in the United States, including schoolchildren, to new difficulties in routine dealings,” the request said.

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In 2009, a house fire was reported every 87 seconds in the U.S. and, on average, seven people died in house fires each day. These alarming statistics from the National Fire Protection Association are some of the reasons behind the annual Fire Prevention Week activities.

“This week is a chance for fire departments to be proactive, not just reactive, in our efforts to educate the public about fire safety,” Sheffield Fire Marshal Terry Lenz said.

Fire Prevention Week kicks off locally with the annual Parade of Lights at 7 p.m. today through downtown Florence. The event features fire trucks and emergency vehicles from various fire departments throughout the Shoals.  Nick Kavich, assistant chief of the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department and fire prevention officer for the Lauderdale County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, said fire departments throughout the region are encouraged to participate. The parade will end at Wilson Park.

During the week, fire departments, paid and volunteer, will participate in activities to promote safety. “It’s an opportunity for us to get out into the community and to try to stress the importance of fire safety and fire prevention,” Russellville Fire Capt. Steve Thornton said.

He said firefighters have been going to schools in Franklin County and other areas with the department’s Smoke House, teaching fire prevention to young children. “We will continue to be doing demonstrations and taking the children through the Smoke House all next week,” Thornton said Friday.

He said the department is once again trying to stress the importance of smoke alarms. “We will be going door to door in different neighborhoods of Russellville installing smoke detectors where they are needed,” Thornton said. “People need to understand that a smoke detector 10 years old or older needs to be replaced.”

Lenz said people also may want to think about getting a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector for their homes. “They may be a little more expensive, but they are well worth the money,” he said. He said they will be talking to business owners about fire extinguishers and about some of the hazards that could cause fires.

According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association, there were more than 362,000 house fires in 2009. Those fires caused more than 12,000 injuries and 2,500 deaths.

That same report indicates cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and related injuries. Fire departments responded to an average of 155,400 cooking-related home fires each year between 2005-09.

Lenz said most fire departments try to focus on working with children during the week. “If you start training them about fire prevention at an early age, it just carries over the older they get and just becomes second nature to them to continuously think about fire safety,” Lenz said.

Lauderdale County volunteer firefighters will host Life and Safety Day in the parking lot of Lowe’s in Florence on Saturday. The event will feature team competitions as well as an extrication competition.

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About 80 kindergarten students at Sycamore Elementary School joined children across the county and the nation Thursday to listen to local leaders read from "Llama Llama Red Pajama" by Anna Dewdney as part of Jumpstart's annual Read for the Record campaign.

"It's very important that children get used to reading on a regular basis," said Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche, who read at Sycamore Elementary School. "It's also important that people interact with students and help them understand that."Some 26 Orange Unified School District elementary campuses are involved in the 6-year-old campaign, said Linda Stoterau, district curriculum administrator.

Similar events played out at other Orange County schools, including Heninger Elementary School in Santa Ana, where 200 kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students – many clad in their own PJs – listened as new Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana read the tale. "Events like this encourage students to read more on their own because, at this level, reading is usually just done aloud," Stoterau said.

Jumpstart, an early education organization that helps children develop language and literacy skills, partners with the Pearson Foundation in the program. As of last year, the effort had raised $6.2 million and donated nearly 800,000 books. Final numbers for this year's event will be released in late October or early November.
Sycamore Elementary Principal Erika Krohn said students enjoyed the give-and-take of their session with Cavecche, who asked questions as she read to keep the children engaged.

"We should instill a love of reading into children, and today was just an added bonus that we could help break a record," Krohn said. "Research also shows that reading for pleasure helps boost vocabulary, and it's just a really important lifelong skill."

Five-year-old Jared Reyes enjoyed participating in the shared reading experience. "My favorite parts of the book are when the llama waits for his mom after she tucks him in and his mom later gives him a kiss," Jared said. Another student, Andrew Rivera, 5, said he often reads with his mother. Sometimes I read to her, and sometimes she reads to me," Andrew said. "I really like to read."

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Across Oregon and Washington, communities are observing Walk and Bike to School Day. Events are designed to encourage kids to take a safe bike or pedestrian route to school.In Vancouver, kids walked a one-mile route to Hough Elementary. Cascade Middle School in Bend kicked off a weekly walk-to-school day.

In Southeast Portland, kids from Abernathy Elementary raced past a roundabout on bikes and scooters, as parents and "sibs" cheered them on. Mia Birk is an Abernathy parent, and a long-time bike advocate. She says there are ways to improve safety along school routes.

"We have a toolkit of engineering tricks to make it safer for kids to bike or walk to school - everything from bike lanes to crosswalks and fixing little things that make a difference," she said. But Birk says parents have to be on board, and break habits of driving kids everywhere. Birk says 40 percent of Abernathy students now bike or walk to school.

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Children who are overweight compared to their peers are nearly three times more likely to have high blood pressure, a new study shows. The study, published in the journal Hypertension, followed 1,111 school-aged children in Indiana for an average of four years.

Twice each year, researchers visited schools to take blood pressure measurements and record the kids' heights and weights. About 40% of the children in the study were above the 85th percentile on growth charts for their height and weight. When children are above the 85th percentile, doctors consider them to be overweight.

Among the overweight kids, 14% had blood pressure that was higher than normal, while only 5% of normal-weight kids had elevated blood pressure. The study also found that extra pounds are especially dangerous for kids who are already big.

"For an overweight and obese child, if you increase your BMI [body mass index] percentile a little bit, that would increase your blood pressure strongly,"says researcher Wanzhu Tu, PhD. Tu is a research scientist at Regenstrief Institute and professor of biostatistics at Indiana University School of Medicine, both in Indianapolis. "In the same way," Tu says, for just a little bit of weight loss "you could benefit greatly in terms of blood pressure."

The risks of overweight were the same, regardless of the child's sex or race. About 42% of the kids in the study were black.

Findings Troubling: Pediatricians say the study is wake-up call. "We've tended to look at the overweight category as a lower-risk category," says Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD, chairman of the department of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. He was not involved in the research.

"This suggests to me that we really need to worry about kids who are in that overweight category," says Daniels, who is also pediatrician-in-chief at Colorado Children's Hospital. Other experts say the findings are concerning because having high blood pressure has been shown to set kids up for health complications.

Not only are children with high blood pressure much more likely to turn into adults who have high blood pressure, but newer studies have shown that kids can get the same kinds of organ damage -- to the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys -- that doctors once thought was only a problem for adults with the condition.

One study even found that kids with high blood pressure have subtle changes in the brain area that controls attention, problem solving, and working memory.

"For physicians, we have to take much more seriously this concept of the childhood origins of adult diseases and look beyond the weight and beyond the blood pressure level because we're finding more evidence, subtle evidence, of injury," says Bonita Falkner, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

"So it's not going to be a risk that's going to be in the future. It's a risk that's now," says Falkner, who wrote an editorial on the study, but was not involved in the research.

"It jacks up the concern about preventing childhood obesity and also not waiting until they are obese," she tells WebMD. "Even overweight can be problematic for children."

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Repeated exposure to anesthesia to kids below the age of 2 is most likely to cause cognitive problems and increase the risk of learning disabilities e.g. dyslexia, as concluded by a study conducted by Randall P. Flick, MD, MPH, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minneapolis and colleagues. They further noted that virtually all general anesthetics kill brain cells in young primates.
What did study involve?

Flick’s group studied a group of 350 children who received anesthesia before age 2 and compared them with a control group of 700 children, who didn’t have early anesthesia exposure, from among 8,548 children born from 1976 through 1982 in Rochester. The two groups were matched for gender, birth weight, gestational age, mother’s education level, and birth date.
What were findings of the study?

The study revealed that: 21.3% of those who weren’t exposed to anesthesia by age 2, developed learning disabilities by age 19 in comparison to  23.6% of those exposed who were exposed once, and 36.6%...of those who were exposed at least twice.

For multiple exposures, every type of learning disability was significantly elevated, from 87% for mathematics-related problems to 89% for reading disabilities and 93% for problems with written language.
The researchers noted that most of the anesthesia exposure was to halothane (Fluothane), which is no longer in widespread use. Also, effects such as hypoxia or hypocapnia from monitoring without pulse oximetry in the earlier era could have accounted for some of the findings as well.

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