Homework Links: Health & Fitness

Facts on File: Health Reference Center - Clear and comprehensive information on conditions and diseases, health and wellness, mental health, and the human body. Log on to FACTS ON FILE from our Databases page to use Health Reference Center. You'll need to enter your library card barcode number to get started if you're logging on at home.

1-800-273-TALK (8255): Suicide Hotline - If you are in a crisis or having thoughts about suicide, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), for help. Click on the link for more info. (Department of Health & Human Services, Suicide Prevention Resource Center)

1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453): Child Abuse Hotline - If you think you or someone you know may be a victim of child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-422-4453, for help. Click on the link for more info. (Non-profit organization). See also Prevent Child Abuse.

Acne Net - Advice on dealing with acne. See Skin, Hair & Nails for online pamphlets on other skin conditions, including Tattoos, Body Piercings, and Other Skin Adornments. (American Academy of Dermatology)

Addiction: Genetics and the Brain - Explores the factors that play a role in addiction, including genetics, timing & circumstance, and the brain's 'reward pathway'. High school and up. (University of Utah)

Am I in A Healthy Relationship? - Explains the basics of healthy and unhealthy relationships. For teens (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media). See also Stay Alert, Stay Safe (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).

Bandaids & Blackboards - A site for and about kids with medical problems, and for their friends, families, teachers, and others. Includes art, poems, stories, guided meditations, links, and more. Divided into separate sections for kids, teens, and adults. Some pages are not updated often, so expect some broken links. (By Joan Fleitas, Ed.D., R.N. Associate Professor of Nursing, Lehman College, CUNY)

Bicycle / In-Line Skating / Skateboarding Safety - Information to help you avoid getting hurt when using a bicycle, skateboard, or inline-skates. Includes tips on buying the right equipment and following the rules of the road. Middle school and up. (Medical University of South Carolina). See also Kidd Safety (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Body and Mind - Quizzes, games, tips, and tools to help you deal with stress and stay fit & healthy. For kids 9-13 years old (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). For teens, see Mind Zone: Cope Care Deal and Teen Central (both described below).

Body Image: Recommended Reading - A list of books about body image for kids in grades 5 and up; includes fiction and non-fiction. The appropriate age group is given for each book, along with a brief summary of the book's plot or topics covered. You'll find a few more recommended readings on eating disorders in Too Fat, Too Thin. (School Library Journal).

Bullying - Information, animated videos, tips, games, and quizzes explain why kids bully, the signs and effects of bullying, and what you can do if you are being bullied, have seen someone else being bullied, or think you may have bullied others. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

Conflict: A Guide to Getting Along new - This animated website is designed to help teach kids in grades 2 - 4 how to deal with conflicts with friends, siblings, and other people in their lives. REQUIRES A HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTION. (University of Illinois Extension)

Crying and Tears - Explains what tears are, what makes eyes water, and why we cry, plus 'some interesting stuff about crying'. See also Laughter: It's Good for You. (Children, Youth and Women's Health Service of South Australia)

Cutting - This page explains why people cut (purposely scratching or cutting yourself with a sharp object to make your skin bleed), and how you can help yourself or a friend who is cutting (Nemours Foundation). See also Self-Mutilation (described below).

Drug Abuse Research Reports - In-depth reports on abuse of steroids, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and other substances (National Institute on Drug Abuse). For additional in-depth drug info, see Drug Information; high school and up (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). See also Facts on Drugs (for teens; includes stories, interactive quizzes, and links) and Mind Over Matter (for grades 5-9) to learn how different types of drugs affect your body and brain. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Eating Disorders - Background information and FAQ on a variety of eating disorders, plus advice for preventing eating disorders and developing a healthy body image. The site also has information on treatment, plus special sections for Girls & Women and Boys & Men, tips on dealing with negative media messages, how to Get Real, and Love Your Body (National Eating Disorders Association). See also Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide (by ECRI, a non-profit health research agency).

Environmental Health - Links to homework resources and online activities that explain how the environment can affect human health. A few short videos are included. K-12; appropriate grade level is indicated for each resource (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences). See also Tox Mystery , an interactive lesson about toxic substances commonly found in and around the house; middle school. (U.S. National Library of Medicine)

Fitness for Life - This web companion to the Fitness for Life textbook offers useful information and links on health and fitness, even for those who don't have the textbook. (Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.)

Food Pyramid - Nutrition information for kids. Includes the Pyramid Blast Off Game, an interactive computer game where kids can reach Planet Power by fueling their rocket with food and physical activity. (USDA)

Girl's Health - Information and advice on the issues girls (ages 10-16) will face as they become young women. Covers emotions & relationships, eating smart and staying fit, and avoiding drugs, alcohol, and smoking. There are also sections on disability & chronic illness, bullying, and safety. Though aimed at girls, there is plenty of useful information here for boys, too. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

Go Girl World - Information and encouragement for girls to get involved in sports. Click on Gym for info and resources on over 100 sports (with an overview of each sport, bios of women in that sport, related organizations, links, and more) plus activities, training tips, online videos, and an 'Ask the Sports Diva' feature. 'All the sports, none of the smelly socks!' (Women's Sports Foundation)

Headphones & Hearing Loss [LINK OPENS AN AUDIO FILE; REALPLAYER AUDIO REQUIRED] - Cranking up the volume on your iPod or other portable audio player may sound great now - but it may also cause permanent hearing loss. This radio interview with Dr. Roland Eavey of Harvard Medical School explains why (WBUR). For more on this subject, see Can Loud Music Hurt My Ears? (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media) and play the online game, Listen to Your Buds . (Age 6 and up; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)

Healthy NJ - Links to good information for kids and teens on illness and wellness, arranged by topic. (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey)

History of Medicine - A selected directory of upper-level academic web resources on the history of medicine and related sciences; arranged by subject. (University of Nottingham & Wellcome Trust, UK)

How Are Alcohol & Drugs Affecting Your Life? - Take this quiz to find out if you have a problem with alcohol or drugs. For teens (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence). See also When Parents Drink Too Much (Prevent Child Abuse America)

It's My Life - This site for, by, and about kids, has articles, advice, celebrity interviews, games, quizzes, and other activities to help you deal with friends, family, school, your body, and your emotions; no subject is off-limits. For kids aged 9 to 12. (PBS Kids)

Kidnetic - Games, activities, and recipes to help you learn about 'how your body works, how eating right helps you play better and feel good, and how staying active is lots of fun!' For kids aged 9 - 12. (International Food Information Council Foundation)

Kids & Alcohol - Information about what alcoholism is, what causes it, why drinking is bad for you, and what to do if someone you know has a drinking problem. Middle school and up (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media). A related site, Cool Spot offers advice, quizzes, animations, and other activities to help kids 11-13 years old resist peer pressure and learn to say no to alcohol (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

Kids' Health - Doctor-approved health information written for kids, with hundreds of in-depth articles and features. Middle school and up. (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media)

Kids with Special Needs - Links to sites offering support for young people with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions, sites related to specific disabilities or health conditions, and sites dealing with related issues. Last updated in 2006, so expect some broken links (University of Wisconsin). Kids' Quest answers common questions about kids with disabilities (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). For more about people with disabilities, see Ethnic/Multicultural Links: Disabled.

Know It All Health - Health & excercise advice, activities, links, and videos for kids from early childhood through middle school. (South Carolina Dept. of Education and SC-ETV)

Mind Zone: Cope Care Deal - A mental health site to help you cope with difficulties, take care of yourself and your friends, and deal with painful or confusing emotions. For teens. (Annenberg Foundation)

Mouth Power - A colorful interactive site designed to help you learn how to take good care of your teeth and have a healthy smile. (University of Maryland)

Price of Happiness - A lesson plan to help explore the connection between self-image, self-esteem, and advertising. Includes a questionnaire, handouts, and suggestions for related activities. For teachers and students, grades 8 to 12 (Media Awareness Network). See also Media Messages About Body Shape and Size (National Eating Disorders Association).

Rebel / Not for Sale - 'A youth-led, youth-driven anti-tobacco movement.' Website offers tobacco facts, quitting tips, personal stories, newsletter, and photos.

Self-Mutilation - An estimated 2 million Americans practice some form of self-injury; this five-minute audio program describes the history and mentality of self-mutilation (NPR). See also Cutting.

Small Step - 'Cool stuff about food and what it can do for you.' Includes the Smallstep Challenge, TV Ads, great links, games & activities. If you access the internet with a dialup connection, use the HTML version of the site.

Smoking Stinks! - Explains what cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are, why kids use them, how they can hurt you, and how you can help a friend who is smoking or using smokeless tobacco (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media). For more on smoking and tobacco, see Rebel / Not for Sale, I Quit (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).

Sport Science - Learn about the science behind your favorite sport: Find out how skateboarding is governed by the principles of momentum, gravity, friction, and centripetal force; why curveballs curve; the physics of surfing; and much more! (Exploratorium Museum of Science)

Sports Links - Selected links on all kinds of sports. (South Plainfield Public Library)

Teen Central - Advice from professionals for teens dealing with any kind of personal crisis, plus a chance to interact with peers in a safe, anonymous, and professionally-counselled online space. Create a nickname and password to sign in. (Kids Peace)

Teens' Health - Provides doctor-approved information about health, written for teens, with hundreds of in-depth articles and features (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media).

TeenZone Health Clinic, TeenZone Crisis Center, TeenZone Fitness Center & Playground - More great links for teens on physical and emotional health, sports & fitness. (South Plainfield Public Library)

Tips for Teens - Free online pamphlets give you basic facts about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and HIV/AIDS. Just click on a title (ignore the 'Shopping Cart') to view or print the pamphlet; PDF format. (National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information)

What You Need to Know About Drugs - Basic facts about drugs, why drugs are bad for you, how to tell if someone you know is using drugs, and what you can do to help. Middle school and up. (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media)

Young Women's Health - Health information for girls and young women ages 12-22 (Center for Young Women's Health, Children's Hospital of Boston).