How much time does your child spend on the internet? Why not try and turn some of that time into an educational experience for your child's asthma?

The Quest for the Code® is an online asthma game produced by the Starlight Children's Foundation that incorporates an an engaging story while promoting asthma knowledge. Cuba Gooding Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Kelsey Grammer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Glenn Close, Shaquille O'Nea, and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, have all contributed to this engaging story to help kids learn how to manage their asthma.

Quest for the Code® teaches kids and teens about:

• Early warning signs and symptoms
• Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers
• Myths about asthma
• Proper use of asthma medication devices
• Long-term control medicine and quick-relief medicine
• Measuring and monitoring peak flow
• How to answer questions from peers about asthma

Study: Efficacy of Quest for the Code

According to a press release from the Starlight Foundation, a team of researchers from the University of Miami School of Medicine, led by Alan Delamater, PhD, conducted a study designed to investigate whether use of Quest for the Code could help families improve illness management, quality of life, asthma self-efficacy, and asthma knowledge.

The study targeted children ages 8 to 12 from ethnic minority background (African-American, Afro-Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latino) with moderate to severe asthma.

Results showed significant improvements in child-reported asthma self-efficacy and quality of life at one month, and
improvements in self-efficacy, responsibilities, and knowledge at three months. Parents reported improved asthma symptoms at one month, and increased child responsibilities, knowledge, medication-taking, and child avoidance of triggers at three months. The 6-month assessment showed sustained improvements in self-efficacy, adherence, knowledge, child responsibilities, and symptoms.

Consumer satisfaction ratings from both children and parents were very high.

The press release also quotes school nurse Charla Dunham who hosts an asthma group every other week for children
with asthma and uses Quest for the Code to teach her children about their illness, "Quest for the Code has helped keep two frequently hospitalized children from my school out of the hospital. One student missed a large portion of the school year last year, but since we have introduced him to the game, his medical care has improved, and he has not been hospitalized since."

Check out Quest for the Code® at the Starlight Foundation website and see if it might help your child.

Do you have a questions about asthma that you would like answered in a blog? Post a question here and see it answered in one of the weekly blogs.

How are we doing on the asthma site? Having been live as a guide for about 10 months now, I would like your feedback-- what you like, what you would like to see more of, and what we could be doing better!! Thanks for your input.

I hope everyone's asthma stays under control and has a safe and joyful holiday.

Have you ever given your child or a loved one a Christmas gift only to find out it only made your loved one's asthma and allergies worse?

If so or if you just don't want to tell your child they cannot have a stuffed animal again, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's (AAFA) asthma and allergy certification program may be just what you need.

All stuffed toys that are certified asthma and allergy friendly have gone through a significant testing process to ensure these toys will not worsen asthma and allergies with not only first, but also repeated use.

In addition to testing to make sure these stuffed toys do not worsen your asthma, the AAFA tests the plush toys dyes to make sure they are not irritating. Additionally, the AAFA tests to see how allergens like dust mites accumulate in these toys and how successful routine laundering gets rid of the allergens.

A certified asthma and allergy friendly toy may make your home a little healthier this holiday season.