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Nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody with an extended half‐life, is approved for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in all infants in Canada, the EU, Great Britain, and the USA. A population pharmacokinetics (PK) model was built to describe the PK of nirsevimab in preterm and term infants, and to evaluate the influence of covariates, including body weight and age, in infants. Nirsevimab PK was characterized by a 2‐compartment model with first‐order clearance (CL) and first‐order absorption following intramuscular (IM) administration. The typical CL in a 5 kg infant was 3.4 mL/day. Body weight and postmenstrual age were the primary covariates on CL, with minor effects for race, second RSV season, and antidrug antibody status (deemed not clinically relevant). Congenital heart disease (CHD) and chronic lung disease (CLD) did not significantly impact nirsevimab PK. The final population PK model, based on 8987 PK observations from 2683 participants across 5 clinical trials, successfully predicted PK in an additional cohort of 967 healthy infants. Weight‐banded dosing (50 mg in infants <5 kg; 100 mg in infants ≥5 kg) was predicted to be appropriate for infants ≥1 kg in their first RSV season. Together, these data support weight‐banded dosing of nirsevimab in all infants in their first RSV season, including in healthy infants, infants with CHD or CLD, and in infants born prematurely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with underweight in the first 2 years have lower body mass index z‐score (zBMI) and height‐for‐age z‐score (HAZ) in later childhood. It is not known if underweight in the first 2 years is associated with nutrition risk in later childhood. Objective: (1) Determine the relationship between underweight (zBMI < −2) in the first 2 years and nutrition risk measured by the Nutrition Screening for Toddlers and Preschoolers (NutriSTEP) score from 18 months to 5 years. (2) Explore the relationship between underweight in the first 2 years and the NutriSTEP subscores for eating behaviours and dietary intake from 18 months to 5 years. Methods: This was a prospective study, including healthy full‐term children in Canada aged 0–5 years. zBMI was calculated using measured heights and weights and the WHO growth standards. NutriSTEP score was measured using a parent‐completed survey and ranged from 0 to 68. Nutrition risk was defined as a score ≥21. Linear mixed effects models were used. Results: Four thousand nine hundred twenty‐nine children were included in this study. At enrolment, 51.9% of participants were male. The prevalence of underweight children was 8.8%. Underweight in the first 2 years was associated with higher NutriSTEP (0.79, 95% CI: 0.29,1.29), higher eating behaviour subscore (0.24, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.46) at 3 years and higher odds of nutrition risk (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07,1.82) at 5 years. Conclusions: Children with underweight in the first 2 years had higher nutrition risk in later childhood. Further research is needed to understand the factors which influence these relationships. Key points: In this prospective cohort study of 4929 children aged 0–5 years, children with underweight in the first 2 years of life had higher odds of nutrition risk at 5 years of age compared to children without underweight in the first 2 years (p = 0.02). Further research is needed to understand the factors which influence these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sucrose is widely administered to hospitalized infants for single painful procedures, total sucrose volume during the entire neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay and associated adverse events are unknown. In a longitudinal observation study, we aimed to quantify and contextualize sucrose administration during the NICU stay. Specifically, we investigated the frequency, nature, and severity of painful procedures; proportion of procedures where neonates received sucrose; total volume of sucrose administered for painful procedures; and incidence and type of adverse events. Neonates <32 weeks gestational age at birth and <10 days of life were recruited from four Canadian tertiary NICUs. Daily chart reviews of documented painful procedures, sucrose administration, and any associated adverse events were undertaken. One hundred sixty‐eight neonates underwent a total of 9093 skin‐breaking procedures (mean 54.1 [±65.2] procedures/neonate or 1.1 [±0.9] procedures/day/neonate) during an average NICU stay of 45.9 (±31.4) days. Pain severity was recorded for 5399/9093 (59.4%) of the painful procedures; the majority (5051 [93.5%]) were heel lances of moderate pain intensity. Sucrose was administered for 7839/9093 (86.2%) of painful procedures. The total average sucrose volume was 5.5 (±5.4) mL/neonate or 0.11 (±0.08) mL/neonate/day. Infants experienced an average of 7.9 (±12.7) minor adverse events associated with pain and/or sucrose administration that resolved without intervention. The total number of painful procedures, sucrose volume, and incidence of adverse events throughout the NICU stay were described addressing an important knowledge gap in neonatal pain. These data provide a baseline for examining the association between total sucrose volume during NICU stay and research on longer‐term behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Caring for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) is a significant undertaking for families. While respite care is intended to address this burden, demand continues to exceed supply. Exploring the perspectives of respite service providers (SPs) and stakeholders (SKs) provides unique insight into families' needs and respite care systems. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 41 respite care SPs and SKs across four Canadian provinces to ascertain perspectives on current and ideal respite care for families of CYSHCN. The analysis included delineating units of meaning from the data, clustering units of meaning to form thematic statements and extracting themes. The second‐level analysis involved applying themes and subthemes to cross‐functional process maps. Findings: Participants noted the critical, but sometimes absent role of Community Service Workers, who have the ability to support families accessing and navigating respite care systems. SPs and SKs identified current respite systems as operating in crisis mode. New findings suggest an ideal respite care system would incorporate advocacy for families, empower families and value CYSHCN, their families and respite workers. Conclusion: The evidence of unmet respite care needs of families of CYSHCN across Canada has long been available. Our findings identifying respite system challenges and solutions can be used by funders and policymakers for planning and enhancing resources, and by healthcare professionals, respite care providers and SKs to understand barriers and take action to improve respite outcomes to meet the respite needs of all families and CYSHCN. Patient or Public Contribution: The research team is composed of patients, researchers, clinicians and decision‐makers along with our Family Advisory Committee (FAC) composed of members of families of CYSHNC. The FAC was formed and met regularly with research team members, knowledge users and collaborators throughout the study to provide input on design, review themes and ensure findings are translated and disseminated in a meaningful way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to pain‐related stress from frequent invasive procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has been associated with altered physiological stress regulation, neurodevelopment, and behavior in children born very preterm (≤32 weeks gestation). Previously, in a cohort born 2003–2006 (Cohort 1), we found that, at 18 months corrected age (CA), children born extremely low gestational age (ELGA; 24–28 weeks) and very low gestational age (VLGA; 29–32 weeks), had higher pre‐test cortisol levels and a different pattern of cortisol output across a developmental assessment involving cognitive challenge compared to children born full‐term (FT; 39–41 weeks). Also, greater neonatal pain‐related stress exposure among the preterm children was related to higher pre‐test cortisol levels. Given the adverse long‐term effects of neonatal pain in preterm infants and the ensuing rise in clinical concerns to appropriately manage pain in the NICU in recent years, we aimed to examine whether our findings from Cohort 1 would still be evident in an independent cohort (Cohort 2) born 2006–2011 and recruited from the same tertiary NICU in Vancouver, Canada. We also compared the cortisol patterns, clinical and socio‐demographic factors, and their interrelationships between the two cohorts. In Cohort 2, our findings using multi‐level modeling support and extend our earlier findings in Cohort 1, demonstrating that children born ELGA display higher pre‐test cortisol levels than FT. As well, greater cortisol output across assessment was related to more anxiety/depressive behaviors in children born VLGA. Importantly, children born ELGA were exposed to less neonatal pain/stress, mechanical ventilation, and morphine in Cohort 2 than Cohort 1. In both cohorts, however, cortisol levels and patterns were related to neonatal pain/stress and clinical factors (days on mechanical ventilation, overall morphine exposure). Despite less exposure to pain/stress and adverse clinical factors in Cohort 2 compared to Cohort 1, cortisol levels and patterns across cognitive challenge in preterm children at 18‐month CA were consistent across the two independent cohorts. These findings highlight that, despite improvements to neonatal care, children born extremely preterm continue to display altered HPA axis activity, which is associated with their poorer neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Many countries, including Canada, are considering regulations to restrict food and beverage marketing to children. However, little evidence is available outside of the US on how marketing exposure differs across sociodemographic subgroups. Objective: To investigate potential associations between child and adolescent sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to food and beverage marketing in Canada. Methods: Participants (n = 3780) aged 10–17 self‐reported exposure to food and beverage marketing across food categories, locations and marketing techniques. Logistic regression models tested relationships between sociodemographics (age, sex, ethnicity and income adequacy) and marketing exposure. Results: Among other differences identified, 13–17 years old were more likely than 10–12 years old to report seeing unhealthy food marketing online. Girls were more likely than boys to see such marketing online and in retail settings, while boys were more likely to see it in video games. Minority ethnicities (including Indigenous youth) and respondents with lower income adequacy generally reported more exposure than White and higher income respondents, respectively. Conclusions: This study highlights important differences in marketing exposure among youth of different sociodemographic groups in Canada, including greater exposure to marketing among those most disadvantaged and emphasizes the essential need to consider food marketing across equity groups when developing restrictions on marketing to kids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child homicides are rare occurrences, but when they occur, they often cause significant outrage. This paper examines the role of varying degrees of intimacy between victims and perpetrators in determining characteristics in child homicide cases. Focusing on 533 cases of child homicide between 1985 and 2012 in Ontario, Canada, characteristics of intrafamilial and extrafamilial cases, biological and step/foster parents, and maternal and paternal perpetrators are compared. Results show that characteristics of the child homicide vary depending on the degree of intimacy between victims and perpetrators, including: perpetrator and victim age, weapon use, suicide following the offence, sexual violence and use of excessive force. These findings provide support for developmental victimology and a routine activities theoretical perspective. Suggestions for future research and policy implications are also discussed. 'Examines the role of varying degrees of intimacy between victims and perpetrators in determining characteristics in child homicide cases' Key Practitioner Messages: Younger children are at a greater risk of homicide from family members, while older children are at a greater risk of homicide from individuals outside the family.Developmental victimology and routine activities theory can contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics between victims and perpetrators in child homicide.Collaboration should take place between researchers, child death review committees, mental health services, social services and policymakers to improve child homicide prevention and intervention initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The involvement of speech and language therapists (SLTs) within paediatric palliative care (PPC) settings has been recognized within the extant literature. However, there is little understanding of SLT's specific roles and practices when working with this vulnerable cohort of children and their families. As part of a larger body of work to develop consensus‐based recommendations for SLTs working in PPC, it is important to investigate demographic and caseload characteristics. Aims: This exploratory study aimed to gather previously undocumented international demographic data pertaining to SLT service provision, caseload and training in PPC. Additionally, it sought to ascertain the current treatment and assessment approaches of SLTs, and if variations exist in beliefs and practices. Methods & Procedures: An anonymous cross‐sectional survey was designed and reported according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E‐Surveys (CHERRIES). The online survey consisted of 40 items spanning four domains: (1) demographic information, (2) caseload information, (3) service provision and (4) training and education. SLTs from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and the United States were recruited using a purposive snowball sampling approach. Descriptive analysis of closed‐ended survey responses and content analysis of open‐ended responses are presented. Outcomes & Results: A total of 52 respondents completed the survey. SLTs worked in a variety of PPC settings, with patients of varying age and disease groups. Over 50% of participants reported working in PPC for ≤ 4 years. Genetic disorders (34%), oncology (27%) and neurological conditions (21%) made up a significant portion of respondents' caseloads. Reported treatments and assessment approaches used by SLTs are not unique to a PPC population. Barriers and enablers for practice were identified. A portion of participants did not feel trained and prepared to assess (19.2%) or treat (15.4%) PPC clients. Conclusions & Implications: This study confirms that SLTs internationally have a role in the management of communication and swallowing impairments in a PPC context. However, whether current training and resources adequately support SLTs in this role remains questionable. This paper helps to provide SLTs, administrators, professional associations and tertiary institutions with foundational data to help inform workforce planning, advocacy efforts and training priorities. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectThe published multidisciplinary literature has identified that SLTs have a role in PPC. However, there has been no targeted research investigating the professional characteristics of clinicians in this context, nor any detailed information regarding associated clinician beliefs or management approaches.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThis study is a snapshot of attributes, practice patterns and beliefs of SLTs who work with a PPC population. It highlights SLT perspectives of education and training, as well as meta‐perceptions of themselves within the multidisciplinary team.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?Data presented in this paper will help to enable SLTs, organizations and associations to augment service provision and determine future professional development priorities within the field of PPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the association between breastfeeding and childhood obesity. A multinational cross‐sectional study of 4,740 children aged 9–11 years was conducted from 12 countries. Infant breastfeeding was recalled by parents or legal guardians. Height, weight, waist circumference, and body fat were obtained using standardized methods. The overall prevalence of obesity, central obesity, and high body fat were 12.3%, 9.9%, and 8.1%, respectively. After adjustment for maternal age at delivery, body mass index (BMI), highest maternal education, history of gestational diabetes, gestational age, and child's age, sex, birth weight, unhealthy diet pattern scores, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, sleeping, and sedentary time, exclusive breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.57, 1.00]) and high body fat (OR 0.60, 95% CI [0.43, 0.84]) compared with exclusive formula feeding. The multivariable‐adjusted ORs based on different breastfeeding durations (none, 1–6, 6–12, and > 12 months) were 1.00, 0.74, 0.70, and 0.60 for obesity (Ptrend =.020) and 1.00, 0.64, 047, and 0.64 for high body fat (Ptrend =.012), respectively. These associations were no longer significant after adjustment for maternal BMI. Breastfeeding may be a protective factor for obesity and high body fat in 9‐ to 11‐year‐old children from 12 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parent experiences of caring for children with neurodevelopmental disease have been silenced and constrained by social, political and health influences. There is a need to co‐construct new meanings and interpretations of parenting a child with complex disabilities by having an increased understanding of the struggles and barriers for parents. Methods: A hermeneutic phenomenology approach was applied in this inquiry. Fifteen parents of children with rare neurodevelopmental diseases participated in semi‐structured interviews. Results: Parents experienced silencing or being silenced within interactions with health‐care and social care systems and providers. Interpretive thematic analysis revealed three insights: (a) parents experience a sense of disconnect and silencing as little is known or understood by health‐care providers about the experience of caring for children at home; (b) parents make strong efforts to be heard and acquire services within health and social systems as fighters, saviours and navigators; and (c) parents sacrifice themselves to the caregiving role and become therapists and caregivers to their medically fragile children at the cost of losing themselves as parents. Conclusion: An understanding of parents' experiences in caring for a child with a rare neurodevelopmental disease may provide insight to systemic health and social support challenges faced by families and mitigate appropriate and supportive policies and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: School nutrition policies can improve healthy food access for Indigenous First Nations children in Canada. This study explored First Nations students' perceptions of a school nutrition policy. Methods: The research was a process evaluation of school nutrition policy implementation using a mixed‐methods design. Students in grades 4–12 (n = 94) completed a 17‐question survey to capture their perceptions of the policy. Survey data informed an 11‐question semi‐structured interview guide. Transcripts from interviews with students (n = 20) were analysed using content analysis to identify barriers and facilitators to policy implementation. Results: Key facilitating factors to policy implementation were student support for the policy and taste preferences. Most students (87%) agreed that only healthy foods should be served at school and, in interviews, expressed a preference for healthy food choices. Barriers to policy implementation included foods available at school and lack of communication between students and their teachers and parents. Half (50%) of surveyed students reported that their eating habits at school were average; interviews explained that their diets could be improved by consuming more fruit and vegetables at school. Both surveys and interviews found that communication between students and their parents and teachers about what they ate and drank at school was low. Conclusions: To support children's healthy eating at school, the school nutrition policy could provide clear guidelines on foods permissible in the school, while considering social and environmental barriers to healthy eating. The involvement of First Nations children in the implementation and evaluation of school nutrition policies is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate if there are departures from the WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) in postnatal growth of healthy 'Canadian' children in Ontario up to age 2 years, including by infant feeding and ethnicity.Methods: We included data on 9964 healthy, singleton children born in Ontario, Canada. Smoothed weight, length and body mass index (BMI) percentile curves were generated using quantile regression for the Canadian cohort from birth to age 2 years. Differences in percentile values were calculated comparing Canadian children vs. the WHO-CGS.Results: Canadian children under age 2 years were longer than the WHO-CGS at the 10th (0.8 cm), 50th (1.3 cm) and 90th (1.9 cm) percentiles. Canadian children incrementally surpassed the WHO-CGS in weight after age 6 months, and in BMI after 9 months. By age 2 years, the 50th percentile weight of Canadian males was 823 g (95% confidence interval (CI) 680, 965) higher than the WHO-CGS 50th percentile. Weight differences were seen regardless of feeding practice, and were greatest among children of mothers born in Canada and Europe/Western nations, and least for those of East Asian/Pacific or South Asian heritage. Among Canadian breastfed males, 18% (95% CI 16, 19) of newborns and 26% (95% CI 20, 33) toddlers aged 2 years were classified by WHO-CGS as weighing >90th percentile - much higher than the expected rate of 10%. Similarities were seen for differences in BMI.Conclusions: Healthy Canadian infants/toddlers are longer and heavier than the WHO-CGS norms. Explanations for these discrepancies require further elucidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Participating in everyday life is essential to the healthy development and emotional well-being of children. However, little is known about siblings of children with complex care needs (CCN), and their perspectives and experiences of participating in everyday life. The aim of this paper is to present research findings that add to our understanding of how siblings of children with CCN view and experience participation in everyday life. Methods To arrive at a detailed and accurate understanding of the siblings' perspectives and experiences, we used the qualitative research design of ethnography. Sixteen siblings (seven brothers, nine sisters) of children with CCN were recruited. The siblings ranged in age between 7 and 25 years, with a mean age of 14 years. All siblings took part in opened-ended interviews and completed ecomaps to describe how they participate. Five siblings also took part in the photovoice method. Analysis involved several iterative steps, congruent with ethnography. Results Four main themes emerged as follows: (1) participation is about being part of a group; (2) it feels good; (3) I love my sibling but...; and (4) promoting participation. Siblings of children with CCN identified challenges to participation and also described ways that they participate that relate to the care of their sibling. Conclusions Siblings prioritized the relationship with their sisters and brothers with CCN in their life, and a great deal of their participation was chosen with their sibling in mind. Sibling-to-sibling relationships were distinct and meaningful and, as a result, participation was always done mindfully and with the family needs at the forefront. Nonetheless, clinicians caring for children with CCN must keep in mind the challenges that siblings of children with CCN experience and provide strategies to siblings that will help to promote their participation in everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The body of literature on narratives of bilingual children with and without specific language impairment (SLI) is growing. However, little is known about the narrative abilities of bilingual preschool children with SLI and their patterns of growth. Aims To determine the similarities and differences in narrative abilities between preschoolers with and without SLI who are either monolingual or bilingual at two time points. Methods & Procedures Forty children completed a narrative retell task in English at two test points. The mean ages were 52 and 58 months at Times 1 and 2, respectively. We examined performance on measures of narrative macrostructure (narrative information) and microstructure (sentence length, number of different words, verb accuracy, first mentions) in monolingual and bilingual children with and without SLI. The bilingual children were from diverse first-language backgrounds and all spoke English most of the time. Outcomes & Results A series of repeated-measures analyses of variance was used with language ability (typical development or SLI) and bilingual status (monolingual versus bilingual) as the between-subjects factors and time (Times 1 or 2) as the within-subjects factor. Results indicated a significant main effect of time for four measures (i.e., Information Score, lexical diversity, sentence length and verb accuracy). The between-subjects analyses indicated a significant difference between the typically developing children and the children with SLI in all measures and a significant difference between monolingual and bilingual children for verb accuracy only. Conclusions & Implications This study showed that all four groups of children showed growth over a 6-month period and that bilingual children exposed predominantly to English in the home performed similarly to their monolingual peers in measures of narrative information, sentence length, number of different words and first mentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research and theorizing has characterized contemporary mothering as medicalized, intensive and risky. The rate of diagnosis of children's mental health issues has grown rapidly, particularly since the 90s. This paper examines the construction of mothering in regard to children's behaviours and mental health through an exploratory and qualitative content analysis of the portrayal of advice to mothers in Chatelaine Magazine, the premier women's magazine published in Canada. The time periods chosen for comparison were 1945-1956 and 1990-2010. The first period was selected because it was a time of dramatic changes that occurred in family, occupational and domestic life for women immediately after World War II. The second represents the modern period. The findings of the paper suggest that mothering was intensive, medicalized and risky in both periods although the conceptualizations of problems differed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The related issues of food security and obesity among North American Indigenous children are serious public health concerns. This community-based participatory study sought to gain deeper understanding of young First Nation children's lived experience with food and to learn, from their perspective, about food security issues in their community. Methods In this Photovoice investigation 26 young children attending a rural reserve school in Canada were asked to take photographs of the food they ate. Nine high school students from the same school were trained as co-researchers: they interviewed the younger students, helped identify emerging themes and contributed to knowledge translation. Data analysis incorporated conventional content analysis, grounded theory's constant-comparative method, and examination of photos and texts. Results Five primary findings emerged from photographs and interviews: (1) children had a dualistic understanding of healthy vs. unhealthy foods; (2) packaged, quick-preparation foods played a dominant role in children's everyday food experiences; (3) families were critical to children's food-related experiences; (4) although traditional foods are viewed as central to Aboriginal health, few were depicted in the photographs; and (5) photos do not tell the whole story - despite the smaller numbers of fruits and vegetables in photos, children like to eat these foods when they are available at home. Conclusions The study improved understanding of children's everyday food-related experiences, provided insight into community food security, and demonstrated the contribution of children and youth as experts on their lives and matters affecting them. A photobook representing findings provided a rich, visual tool for communicating the food-related experiences of children and messages about healthy eating within the school and to community members and leaders. Intervention efforts can build on participants' understanding of healthy versus unhealthy foods and on the critical role of family for healthy eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined links between sharing, respect for moral others, and sympathy in an ethnically diverse sample of 7- and 15-year-olds ( N = 146). Sharing was assessed through children's allocation of resources in the dictator game. Children reported their respect towards hypothetical characters performing moral acts. Sympathy was evaluated via caregiver and child reports. Respect and caregiver-reported sympathy interacted in predicting sharing: Higher levels of respect were associated with higher levels of sharing for children with low, but not medium or high, levels of sympathy. The motivational components of other-oriented respect may compensate for low levels of sympathetic concern in the promotion of sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Most national surveys examining diet leave large segments of the Aboriginal population under-represented. The present study aimed to: (i) review primary research studies that investigated the dietary intakes of Canadian school-aged Aboriginal youths; (ii) summarise the tools and methodologies currently used to measure diet in this population; and (iii) identify knowledge gaps and suggest areas of future research. Methods A systematic review of research published between January 2004 and January 2014 related to the diets of Canadian school-aged (6-18 years) Aboriginal youths was undertaken, including Medline, Scopus, ERIC, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Studies were summarised based on purpose, year, sample population, setting, dietary assessment method and main findings. Results Twenty-four studies were reviewed, all of which were cross-sectional in design. Most ( n = 16; 67%) were from Ontario or Quebec, investigated the diets of First Nations ( n = 21; 88%) youths and took place in remote or isolated settings ( n = 18; 75%). Almost all of the studies used the 24-h recall to assess intake ( n = 19; 79%), of which 89% used a single recall. The findings suggest that the diets of Aboriginal youths could be improved. Of particular concern are inadequate intakes of vegetables and fruit, milk and alternatives, fibre, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D, concomitant with an excess consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, snacks and fast foods. Traditional foods remain important but tend to be consumed infrequently. Conclusions The diets of Canadian Aboriginal youths are energy-dense and nutrient-poor. The diets of Inuit and Métis youths, in particular, and perceptions of a balanced diet warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents ( n = 140) of children 2 to 7 years responded to an online survey regarding their children's experiences and conversations about death. A total of 75% of parents indicated that they had spoken to their child about death, and the majority of conversations were first initiated when children were between 3 and 3.5 years of age. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors that could predict conversations about death. Parents ( n = 88) provided narratives of the explanations of death that they gave their child and subsequently reported their level of satisfaction with their explanation. The content of the explanations was coded and examined in relation to children's age and parental satisfaction. Results revealed that parents who provided explanations to a continued existence after death reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction than those parents who discussed the absence of a future physical relationship after death. Finally, explanations of a continued existence were not always in reference to an afterlife and could include discussing the memory of the deceased or their continued impact even after death. Thus, when talking to young children about death, parents may feel greater satisfaction in finding ways to discuss the continued legacy of those who have died compared to more biological explanations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of what has been termed a childhood obesity epidemic, public health institutions have recently begun to promote active play as a means of addressing childhood obesity, thus advancing play for health. Drawing on Foucault, this article problematises the way that children's play is being taken up as a health practice and further considers some of the effects this may have for children. Six Canadian public health websites were examined, from which 150 documents addressing children's health, physical activity, obesity, leisure activities and play were selected and coded deductively (theoretical themes) and inductively (emerging themes). Bacchi's () question-posing approach to critical discourse analysis deepened our analysis of dominant narratives. Our findings suggest that several taken-for-granted assumptions and practices underlie this discourse: (i) play is viewed as a productive activity legitimises it as a health practice; (ii) tropes of 'fun' and 'pleasure' are drawn on to promote physical activity; (iii) children are encouraged to self-govern their leisure time to promote health. We underscore the need to recognise this discourse as contingent and as only one of many ways of conceptualising children's leisure activities and their health and social lives more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined children's judgements and emotions associated with weight-based social exclusion using an ethnically diverse sample of one hundred and seventeen 9- and 13-year-old children. Children were interviewed about three scenarios depicting weight-based exclusion in athletic, academic, and social contexts. Children's judgements of exclusion, emotions attributed to the excluder and excluded targets, and justifications for judgements and emotions were examined. Overall, children judged weight-based exclusion to be wrong for moral reasons. However, they viewed weight-based exclusion in athletic contexts as less wrong compared with academic contexts, and they used more social-conventional reasoning to justify judgements and emotions attributed to excluders in athletic contexts compared with academic and social contexts. Children also expected excluded targets to feel negative emotions, whereas a range of positive and negative emotions was attributed to excluders. In addition, older children were more accepting of weight-based exclusion in athletic contexts than in academic and social contexts. We discuss the results in relation to the development of children's understanding of, and emotions associated with, exclusion based on weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]