Family briefs

Eye tests

NEW YORK - Children's eyes should be tested before they get to kindergarten - and that's not happening in enough families, placing kids at a greater risk for vision loss as well as physical and emotional difficulties, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Information was collected regarding 12,534 children, and only 36 percent of those age 6 and under had ever received a vision test despite proof that visual cues are important in developing children's understanding and functionality in the world around them, and impaired vision can affect cognitive and neurological development, the CDC reported.

Many cases of visual impairment, however, can eliminated though timely diagnosis and treatment, says Dr. Elaine Hathaway, an ophthalmologist speaking on behalf of the Vision Council of America, a not-for-profit trade group that conducts a "Check yearly, see clearly" campaign.

"Amblyopia is the leading cause of vision loss in young Americans," she stated, "but vision loss can be avoided with early detection and treatment. If we're serious about preventing vision loss, we need to make sure that children receive the necessary preventative vision care," Hathaway said.

Aside from taking children for an eye exam, there are some warning signs that can alert parents to a potential vision problem:

-Squinting, closing or covering one eye, excessive blinking or rubbing of the eyes.

-Dislike or avoidance of close work, a short attention span or frequent daydreaming.

-Placing the head close to a book when reading or losing place while reading.

-Complaints of headaches, nausea and dizziness, or excessive clumsiness.

On the Net: www.checkyearly.com

Maternity leave

NEW YORK - New moms want to spend their maternity leave bonding with their baby, but because of procrastination or poor planning, many aren't making the most of their days away from their desk, says Kathy Peel, an author of parenting books.

In a new survey of working mothers and mothers-to-be conducted by iVillage, 73 percent they were most concerned about spending quality time with their newborns. Some of these women, however, get distracted in the days and weeks following labor because they didn't research immunization schedules (44 percent) or child care options (49 percent) beforehand. Of the 1,366 women polled, 25 percent said they never fully completed either of those tasks before going back to work.

"Moms-to-be are doing some advance work - shopping for baby products, decorating - but there is a disconnect somewhere," says Peel, who goes by the moniker "the Family Manager."

"Especially with the first baby, new moms get excited about the fun things but it's very important do things like talk to pediatrician, who'll be a very important person in your life. Ask about office hours and their child care philosophies."

Peel also suggests that pregnant women should offer guidance to those who will be her helpers once the baby is born so everyone is on the same page. "Most moms have a family member come in and help. To maximize their help, let them help you. Tell them ahead of time what foods you'll want in the house, what kinds of chores they can help with."

Other ways to enjoy maternity leave are to take a lot of pictures and to learn not to sweat the small stuff, Peel adds. "It's OK if there are dishes in the sink for a while. Lower your standards a little bit. You'll never have time again like this with your baby."

Overall, most mothers surveyed by iVillage reported a pleasant maternity leave experience. The average leave is 11 1/2 weeks, and 94 percent of women said they enjoyed being home with their baby in that time, with 13 percent saying they missed going to work. Once they did return to the office, 75 percent of mothers felt their colleagues were supportive.

IVillage is a network of online and offline media properties that targets women, teenage girls and parents.

On the Net: http://www.ivillage.com

Best pets

NEW YORK - For many of us, "family" includes the family dog. But just like the arrival of a new baby must be treated delicately and thoughtfully, so must the adoption of a new dog.

"The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Dog" (BowTie Press), edited by Kristin Mehus-Roe, includes tips to find a pet that will be good companions for children.

A tiny Yorkie probably isn't a good match for a rambunctious child, who might be better suited to a Labrador retriever, golden retriever or boxer, all of whom love to chase balls and go on outings, according to the "Dog Bible." Pomeranians, Chihuahua or miniature poodles love to snuggle up on the couch, making them a good pal for quiet youngsters or kids who spend a lot of free time indoors.

Some guardian breeds may be inappropriate for households that have a lot of friends coming and going because, while they make excellent companions, they can be protective and could misinterpret child's play as aggression toward a family member.

Other suggestions for choosing a dog with the right temperament:

-Check the dog's sociability. Ask to visit with the dog privately in a quiet area. If it is a "people dog" it will solicit your attention by approaching you with tail wagging and licking or nudging you. It should also approach children in a friendly manner.

-Check the dog's tolerance of physical affection, which children like to give. Pet it about a dozen times. Does it lean in for more or pull away?

-Test the dog's excitability level. Jump around and make noise for several seconds. How excited does the dog get - and how long does it take to calm down? If the dog is excitable, it'll likely need a family that gives it extra attention and, possibly, special training. If it is playful but calms down quickly, it could be an excellent choice for a family with young children.

-Determine if the dog suffers from separation anxiety. Leave the dog alone for a few minutes. When you return, does the dog seemed stressed or out of breath? Dealing with this condition will require additional training.

Alpha Mom

NEW YORK - There are channels that focus on food, garden and home, but now comes Alpha Mom TV, a 24-7 channel devoted to parenting and catering specifically to mothers.

It features programming about child-rearing issues, including nutrition and safety, and women's issues, such as how women can maintain their sense of self once they become mothers. Maternity designer Liz Lange created four fashion shows, one for each trimester of pregnancy plus the post-natal period.

Other shows focus on practical parenting, tackling baby gear, travel and sleep issues.

All content will be reviewed by members of an advisory board that consists of doctors, psychologists and fitness instructors specializing in pediatrics and childhood development.

Alpha Mom TV is launching with five hours of programming, edited into 15-minute packages, in several markets as a digital cable video-on-demand network, which is intended to allow busy parents to watch the shows that most interest them when it is most convenient for them.

"Alpha Mom TV is our way of supplying moms with the necessary parenting information around-the-clock," says Isabel Kallman, a former Wall Street executive who left the world of finance when her first child was born. She is the co-founder of Alpha Mom TV.

She adds: "Becoming a mother is a scary thing. We hope to empower moms with knowledge through Alpha Mom TV, which will take some of the fear out of becoming a mother."