If your child has asthma, this is probably the week you’re starting to check the pollen counts again. Even though St. Louis recently lost its ranking as “Asthma Capital” of the 
nation (for 2010 we’re at No. 2 – thanks, Richmond!) it’s still a challenging place for many kids and adults to take a deep breath.
The number of children in our metro area who have asthma is about three times the national average, according to the St. Louis Regional Asthma Consortium. That’s about 1 in 11 children. Kids like my 3-year-old, who has had wheezing episodes but is not yet officially diagnosed with asthma, are not included in that count, so the number of those under 18 receiving asthma treatment may be quite a bit higher – especially among kids under 5, in whom asthma is difficult to diagnose. Some of them may grow out of it (I have my fingers crossed); click here to read what the National Institutes of Health says about asthma diagnosis in the very young.
But because we have a family history of respiratory allergies, one day I’m most likely going to have to face up to the fact that he, like his mom, officially has asthma. The upside of having this chronic disease in St. Louis is that there are dozens of support organizations and many research projects going on all the time – the medical community, public health officials and schools are fully aware of our fair city’s asthma issues.
The most important thing for parents to do is learn to manage their child’s individual triggers and symptoms; for this, an ongoing relationship with a health professional is key. However, community resources, like those listed here by the St. Louis Regional Asthma Consortium, can provide valuable support and awareness.
And this spring, keep track of that pollen! The St. Louis Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has a pollen tracker on its homepage; it also tweets pollen levels.
By Amy De La Hunt, health blogger for SmartParenting
Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.
Explore songs, finger plays, music and more during this Music & Movement class for ages 0-6. Some sessions are held in person at various branches of the St. Louis County Library. Some sessions are virtual.
Visit The Magic House for Toddler Time, a special early-morning program for toddlers. Children age 1-4 can take part in exhibits and exclusive interactive activities designed just for little ones. There are new themes every week!
9 Mile Garden presents family-friendly movie nights all summer long on Wednesday evenings. Enjoy a free movie on the 325-inch big screen along with food trucks, kiddie cocktails, slushies and more.
Romeo & Zooliet is a wildly fun, family-friendly stage adaptation of Romeo & Juliet! It explores what would happen if animals at the Saint Louis Zoo put on their own Shakespearean performance after zookeepers go home for the night. The show stage and seating area is designed as an enchanting version of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre within the Zoo's Historic Hill area. "Romeo & Zooliet" is produced as a partnership of the Saint Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. The production features dazzling animal puppetry by world-renowned Michael Curry Design, known for its work on Broadway's "The Lion King" and "Frozen," as well as Olympic and Super Bowl ceremonies.
