Early childhood is the most important developmental phase in life; our 'sensitivity periods' for the CNS, emotional response and control, and other developmental things are within the first few years.
These years affect the rest of our lives.
Social influences are thus quite important.
We need commitment from all levels of society.
"The conditions in which children are dying are the same conditions in which children are surviving." (Arjumand Siddiqi, CPHA national conference, 2008)
A child is not a small adult; they are growing!
www.comsep.org - council on medical student education in pediatrics
A child is also integrally connected to a family unit.
Computer-Assisted Learning in Pediatrics Project (CLIPP) - put together through COMSEP
http://www.clippcases.org/login.htm
Sarah Shea is the coordinator here; she audits it (can find out how long we spend)
good to do for family medicine
How to restrain the child during examination
Getting in and out quickly with the tongue blade to help see the tonsils
preventable injury is the leading cause of death (40%) in children 1-14
20% of our children suffer with mental health problems
26% of children are overweight or obese - tripled in 2 decades
1/6 children live in poverty
30% of children enter grade 1 with learning or behavioural difficulties
Comsep.org - medical students and pediatrics