Tune in to Childhood Matters every Sunday from 7 to 8 AM on 98.1 KISS-FM (San Francisco Bay Area), K-Ocean 105.1 FM (Monterey and Santa Cruz), and Radio Cultura KBBF 89.1 FM (North Bay). We rebroadcast Sunday mornings from 10 to 11 AM on 1480 KOGE-AM (Eureka, CA). Call-in with your questions, comments or stories at 877-372-KIDS (5437).

To view or print a copy of our schedule for September 2010 click here!

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Preemie Primer: A Complete Guide for Parents of Premature Babies from Birth to the Toddler Years and Beyond
September 5, 2010

Each year approximately five hundred thousand babies are born prematurely in the United States. Preemies come with a special set of needs and concerns, including physical health challenges, developmental delays, and complex decisions for parents to make. Join Nurse Rona and guests for a discussion about caring for the child in your life while also taking care of your emotional health.

About our guests:

Alison Brooks, RNC, MS, has been the clinical nurse specialist in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for 12 years and was previously a staff nurse in the NICU at Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Alison’s focus is on providing family centered and developmentally appropriate care for the baby and their family. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center has a 55-bed Level III NICU with over 1100 admissions a year. Eight thousand babies were delivered at the hospital last year, the equivalent of one kindergarten class per day. Alison is passionate about her work with premature babies and their families, she sees them as her greatest teachers. Originally from England, Alison moved to the Bay Area over 25 years ago. She lives on a 42-foot sail boat in Alameda, and in addition to her work as a nurse, volunteers with a disabled sailing group called the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors.

Jennifer Gunter, MD, is an internationally renowned OB/GYN and leading expert in the field of women’s pain medicine as well as author of The Preemie Primer: A Complete Guide for Parents of Premature Babies from Birth to the Toddler Years and Beyond. After rounds of fertilization treatments, Dr. Gunter, became pregnant with triplets. Twenty-two and a half weeks into her pregnancy she suddenly went into labor and delivered her first son, Aidan, who died just three minutes later. Then something unexpected happened—she stopped delivering. Nearly four weeks later, at week twenty-six, Jennifer delivered her sons, Oliver and Victor—weighing one pound eleven ounces and one pound thirteen ounces, respectively—and became a parent of preemies. Dr. Gunter writes with the knowledge of a doctor and the compassion of a mom. She lives in Mill Valley, California.

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Single Parenting
September 12, 2010

Being a parent isn’t easy, and raising a child without the help of a partner can be overwhelming. Yet recent US Census data suggests that over one quarter of American kids are being raised by a sole guardian. How can single parents get support to raise children to be secure and healthy? How can you help them? Join Nurse Rona and guests to hear stories from single parents and learn from their experiences.


Choosing Quality Childcare and Preschool
September 19, 2010

A quality preschool or childcare setting offers children the opportunity to play, develop critical thinking and social skills, be creative, and learn self-regulation. Children need a nurturing environment and preparation for the kinds of learning and rules they'll experience in Kindergarten and throughout life. Finding good, affordable options is a challenge for most parents. Nurse Rona and guests will answer your questions about choosing the right setting for your child. Childcare providers, join us in the conversation!


Do Boys Learn Differently from Girls?
September 26, 2010
This show is a part of a special series called Your Teen Matters: A Series on Navigating the Middle and High School Years

Why are boys lagging behind girls academically? New data shows that boys have dropped behind in reading in every state; this problem seems to cut to the core of boys’ difficulties keeping up in school. Additionally, struggling boys are twice as likely as girls to be suspended, and three times as likely face school expulsion. Join us as Nurse Rona and Beth Samuelson, MA, of Student Organizational Services, co-hosts of our Your Teen Matters series, discuss how we can more effectively engage boys in school and motivate them to succeed.