Health, Safety and Nutrition

Children are more susceptible to diseases for a number of reasons. The major reason for children's increased susceptibility is that they have had limited exposure to diseases and therefore haven't yet built the immunologic defenses required to fend off certain diseases. The environment plays an important role as well. Children in day care centers and in school pass infections around and then take them home and pass them to siblings and parents. This is a cycle that is difficult to break. Children also don't always practice good hygiene and that makes them both susceptible to as well as good transmitters of disease.

One the most important ways to prevent disease in your children is to make sure they receive recommended childhood immunizations. Although many of the vaccine-preventable diseases rarely occur in the U.S. today, the viruses and bacteria that cause those diseases still exist. Infectious diseases caused by those pathogens can occur in children who are not protected by vaccines and the pathogens can cause serious diseases and sometimes long-term medical consequences for children who become infected. Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and save thousands of lives.

Physical Activity and Children

Increased physical activity has been associated with an increased life expectancy and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.  Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits. Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.