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Creating Oral Health Awareness for 60 years

National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) turns 60 this year. Each February, since 1949, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.  NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Christmas From Your Child's Perspective   

Try to view the holidays through the eyes of your child. Children experience the holidays differently at different ages. For example, the infant who rests calmly in Santa's arms may become the toddler who shrieks in terror at this bearded stranger. The very young child for whom you carefully shopped may be more interested in the package wrapping than its contents.

Pay attention to and respect your child's reactions and avoid taking his or her preferences personally. Your responsiveness to your child's needs and feelings will leave a more lasting impression than any gift you buy.

Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Water Safety                 

 With warm (hot) weather finally upon us, the pools and water on the beaches and lakes  are warming up, ready to entertain the masses for another season. It’s time to enjoy the outdoors and take the kids out for some water play. Swimming and water play are great exercise for the entire family, and a good night’s sleep for all involved is almost guaranteed. As with any other fun activity, please keep in mind safety advice regarding children and water.

* Never let your child swim alone. Model the rules for your children and insist that they follow them.
  
* Always wear sunscreen if outdoors for more than 15 minutes. Avoid swimming between
10 am and 2 pm when the sun’s rays are the most direct.

* Always supervise children in the water, even those who can swim.  A head injury can occur in a split second, rendering a person unconscious and unable to protect them self if they fall in the water.

* Monitor the time infants and small toddlers are in the water. These young children can swallow too much pool water, which can decrease their sodium concentration, which can cause seizures. Take a break for a snack every hour or two.

* Older children and adults should also take breaks every hour or two to drink water and have snacks to avoid dehydration.

* Take extra precaution if swimming in a natural body of water. Wear a flotation device if in a river, lake, etc.

* Be careful if swimming in warm fresh water. Wading is not dangerous, but diving can be deadly. Head and neck injuries can occur, and an organism (Naegleria) can live in warm, fresh water. This ameba can infect the brain through the nose if a person dives or swims under water in a warm, natural body of water, usually a pond. This infection is rare, but usually fatal.

Remember always, if your child is missing...Check the pool first!

Taking a few simple precautions and using common sense during this swimming season can prevent injuries and illnesses associated with water activities...

                                                   Have fun!

Summer Chores

February 8, 2009 -   - buy your tickets now!                                                                       First Come-First Served                                          click

..Melrose Daycare Center   is sponsoring a fundraiser on February 8, 2009        the Sunday after the Super Bowl at the Coco Key Indoor WaterResort, in Danvers MA. There, you will find the combination of relaxation,  enchantment of the Keys and the excitement of a 65,000 sq. ft. indoor waterpark.  Every day is a bright and sunny  84 degrees, even in  Massachusetts mid-winter.. ACT NOW   Each person will be charged  a discounted $25 ( regular cost is $40).  Children,  23 months and under are free.  Tell all your friends, everyone is welcome. Click: for more information

                             

Seeing Christmas from your child's perspective...

The holiday season is the time of the year everybody loves, but can be stressful for all if we try to do too much. Throw in a couple of toddlers and things can very quickly become overwhelming. 

The following are some toddler tips to help make your holiday season more enjoyable for the entire family:

Try, as much as possible, to include your toddlers in holiday activities. They like to "help", and if you include them in what you are doing it often reduces the possibility of temper tantrums.

They will love to ‘decorate’ the Christmas tree. Allowing them to touch the tree is debatable as they really just want to play with the ornaments. Solution: put all breakable ornaments up out of their reach and hang non-breakable ornaments where they can touch  and play with them. Every morning they will probably pull the bottom ornaments off the tree and throw them on the floor. Hopefully, they will leave the tree alone the rest of the day. At night hang the ornaments back up so the next morning they can start over again. To them this is really fun.

Turn your outside Christmas lights off and on at the same times every day. They will look forward to when you turn all the lights on and will likely remind you if you forget. Looking at ‘their’ lights out the front window is a special time. Take the family on a drive around the neighborhood to look at  other holiday lights.

When you're visiting friends and family during the holidays, try to minimize any disruption to your toddler's schedule as much as possible. If your toddler continues to eat and sleep at the same times as normal, he or she will be much better able to cope with holiday festivities.

Try to resist the urge to give your toddler too many holiday sweets.  It's amazing how they cannot remember not to bite each other but can remember where Mom hid the candy and will not let her alone.

You can do your Christmas shopping online to avoid dragging them to the mall. It is nice having things delivered to your front door! Many web sites offer free shipping this time of year.

Your toddler does not need tons of presents for Christmas. At this age they're more interested in how much they like a toy, not how many they have.. If your toddler receives too many presents for Christmas, put some away for a rainy day or for when the toys he or she is playing with lose their appeal.

The holidays are a great time to introduce new DVD's and CD's to your toddlers and don't forget toddlers love books. 

Continue to read to them each night when possible.

Try to view the holidays through the eyes of your child. Children experience the holidays differently at different ages. For example, the infant who rests calmly in Santa's arms may become the toddler who shrieks in terror at this bearded stranger. The very young child for whom you carefully shopped may be more interested in the package wrapping than its contents.

Pay attention to and respect your child's reactions and avoid taking his or her preferences personally. Your responsiveness to your child's needs and feelings will leave a more lasting impression than any gift you buy.

Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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3 Smart Back-to-School Shopping Tips

As the new school year begins many panic-stricken parents are trying to find ways to satiate their kids’ cravings for the newest, most-expensive brand name clothes and accessories. In fact, the average family, with school-aged children, plans to spend close to $600 on back-to-school purchases this year, according to a National Retail Federation (NRF) survey. And back-to-school spending for parents with grade school children is expected to reach a total of $20.1 billion this year.

However, for some families, spending a lot of money on their kids for school is not an option. More parents are on the hunt for good bargains and sales. NRF reports that 73 percent of parents surveyed will head to discount stores instead of department stores for their back-to-school purchases.

“This year’s back-to-school shopper is a bargain hunter at the core,” says Phil Rist, vice president of Strategy at BIGresearch, in a NRF report. “Though parents want to make sure kids are fully prepared for school, they will compare prices…before making any big purchases.”

In order to help parents save a few bucks on back-to-school items, Consumer Reports.com created three money-saving shopping tips:

1. Stall with summer-sale items. It’s likely to still be warm outside when school starts, so kids can still wear summer clothes. Stalling not only gives kids a chance to tune into fall clothing trends and to find the styles they really want, it buys time for parents to take advantage of Labor Day and Columbus Day, sales in addition to other money-saving opportunities.
   

2. Don’t stock up. Before shopping, take inventory of the closet and determine what still fits and what doesn’t. This way parents won’t buy any duplicates or clothes kids may grow out of in six months. Additionally, resist the temptation to stockpile on new clothes. Consumer Reports advises that parents buy one or two pieces in their kids’ sizes, and then plan to go shopping again during the holidays when the next growth spurt hits.
   

3. Arm yourself with coupons. Before hitting all of the favorite stores, check for coupons or online coupon codes on websites such as Military.com’s Discount Center or Couponcabin.com. What’s more, major retailers such as The Children’s Place, Limited Too, Gymboree, Sears, Target, Macy’s, Old Navy and Gap Kid’s, offer coupons that can save parents at least 10 percent to 50 percent off the total bill.

Parents can also use their Economic Stimulus Payment check — the government distributed the checks earlier this summer — as way to fund a back-to-school shopping trip. Most tax-payers with children should have received at least $1,200 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). But, continue try to be frugal while spending and remember, you’ll just have to do it all over again next year.

Consumer Reports - Military.com

The most common injuries on Halloween are eye injuries from sharp objects, burns from flammable costumes, and injuries from collisions with motor vehicles," said Dr. J. Brian Hancock, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "To ensure a safer Halloween, parents and caregivers should follow important safety measures."

• Make sure you see all the candy BEFORE your child consumes it. Avoid candy not wrapped in its original wrapper, as well as all fruit.

• Make sure your child stays on the sidewalks as much as possible (off streets) and obeys all traffic signals.

• Discuss the importance of staying together in a group. Require at least one adult to serve as chaperone during candy gathering, and forbid children from accepting rides from strangers or visiting unfamiliar homes.

• Avoid costumes that could cause children to trip, such as baggy pants, long hems, high heels, and over-sized shoes.

• Avoid costume contact lenses.

• Avoid masks. If your child must wear one, make sure it is well ventilated and does not impair his or her vision.

• Make sure costume fabric, wigs, and beards are made of flame-resistant materials, such as nylon or polyester.

• Make sure costumes are visible at night; avoid dark colors. Add reflective tape to the costume so your child is more visible to motor vehicles.

• Check accessories such as swords, knives, wands and other pointed objects are made from flexible materials and have dulled edges.

  Try to serve a nourishing meal or snack before 'Trick or Treat' to prevent over-indulgence of sweets.
  
  "The American College of Emergency Physicians also recommends children "trick or treat" at churches, shopping malls, schools, or other types of community sponsored events," said Dr. Hancock. "This helps eliminate children's interaction with strangers and allows for constant adult supervision."

  Halloween SafetyTips...

        Click:  http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/octhalloween.htm

Summer Chores continued...

School is settling into a system  of normalcy.  But don’t get too comfortable just yet.

Hopefully, you are keeping safety as a priority especially now that the weather may  be a problem.  Always drive carefully in School Zones, when schools are open, and never drive drunk.  
                            

Summer Chores

Summer Chores continued...

Families with residential pools need to be aware of all the safety tips regarding in-home hazards, and also be aware of how to protect young children from the dangers a pool poses.

The key to preventing a swimming pool tragedy is to have layers of protection.  This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency,  i.e. knowing CPR etc.

If your child is missing, always remember : 

Safety Rule # 1
LOOK IN THE POOL FIRST    

Every second is critical when a child is under water.  The difference between a serious scare and death or disability is truly measured in precious seconds.  Don't waste those seconds doing anything else until you check and then double-check your pool!

Packing For a Road Trip          

     Here are some ideas that can make the logistics seem bearable, even fun because your kids can help.

• Pack full outfits in individual gallon-sized baggies - shirt, pants, underwear, socks.
   

• Pack only one piece of luggage per kid.
   

• If you're staying in more than one hotel, pack a separate smaller piece of luggage that has pajamas, teddy bears, toothbrushes and other nighttime items and throw in one baggie each for fresh clothes the next morning. When you get to the hotel, you can leave the big, cumbersome luggage in the car and quickly enter and exit the hotel.

  ---

  Donating Old Toys To Charity 
  
  Christmas and Easter are over and the clutter of toys in your child's room continues to mount.. Chances are this clutter is beginning to get on your nerves as you might be thinking about what more toys will mean.  Consider having your child donate older toys to a charitable organization.

  Children may be willing to donate to a good cause some of their hard-to-depart-with older toys that they refuse to throw away.

   "It's easier to give away treasured items than just throw them away" says  Julie Morgenstern.
  
                   Good Parenting Action Points:
  
  1) Explain to your child how other, less fortunate children will benefit when your child donates their older, less used toys.
  
  2) Involve your child in the actual donation process as much as possible.
  
  3) Praise them for their concern and compassion for the less-fortunate after they make the donation.
  
  4) If the organization is non-profit your donation may be tax-deductible. Check with each individual charity you donate to.
  
  5) Make sure the toys are not broken and beyond repair. Charities should not be used as a garbage dump. Most non-profits do not have the resources to repair broken toys.
  
   Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

    Some call this "Paying It Forward"

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Winter weather is still here...
                                                         

Cold and Flu Prevention Tips

We are in the midst of cold and flu season.  Children's immune systems are still developing, making them even more susceptible to winter ills.
Most all pediatricians recommend that your child wash her/his hands a minimum of four times a day.  Each time your children are involved in activities that include extended interaction with others, they should wash their hands.  Tell them to try not to cough or sneeze into their hands.  A good suggestion for them is to have them lift the collar of their shirt and 'sneeze inside' the shirt to prevent the droplets from escaping.  Also a good suggestion, is to have them sing Happy Birthday,  in its entirety,  to themselves while washing  their hands to ensure a thorough wash. 

 Let's try to make the 'common' cold 'uncommon' this winter.

Seeing Christmas From Your Child's Perspective

Try to view the holidays through the eyes of your child. Children experience the holidays differently at different ages. For example, the infant who rests calmly in Santa's arms may become the toddler who shrieks in terror at this bearded stranger. The very young child for whom you carefully shopped may be more interested in the package wrapping than its contents.

Pay attention to and respect your child's reactions and avoid taking his or her preferences personally. Your responsiveness to your child's needs and feelings will leave a more lasting impression than any gift you buy.
Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Halloween Safety Tips... click address below.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/octhalloween.htm

Donating Old Toys To Charity 

Christmas and Easter are over and the clutter of toys in your child's room continues to mount.. Chances are this clutter is beginning to get on your nerves as you might be thinking about what more toys will mean.  Consider having your child donate older toys to a charitable organization.

Children may be willing to donate to a good cause some of their hard-to-depart-with older toys that they refuse to throw away.

 "It's easier to give away treasured items than just throw them away" says  Julie Morgenstern.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Explain to your child how other, less fortunate children will benefit when your child donates their older, less used toys.

2) Involve your child in the actual donation process as much as possible.

3) Praise them for their concern and compassion for the less-fortunate after they make the donation.

4) If the organization is non-profit your donation may be tax-deductible. Check with each individual charity you donate to.

5) Make sure the toys are not broken and beyond repair. Charities should not be used as a garbage dump. Most non-profits do not have the resources to repair broken toys.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

How Big Is Your Child's Santa List?

Help your children learn to make choices by limiting their holiday wish list to three or four items. Doing so will help them -- and you -- identify what they really want. But do set a limit in terms of budget -- if you are like many parents, a pony may be beyond your means! Your children should know that.

Making the actual list should be part of the fun. Have your children write it themselves, draw pictures of the desired items, or cut out pictures from catalogues or circulars and paste them onto the paper. (You will probably want to save these.)

Remember that more is not always better. Knowing that someone cared enough to get what they really want tends to leave the recipient feeling very special. And, if your family is like most, by the time your child opens presents from all of his or her relatives, s/he is probably overwhelmed by the number of new toys.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Christmas from Your Child's Perspective

Try to view the holidays through the eyes of your child. Children experience the holidays differently at different ages. For example, the infant who rests calmly in Santa's arms may become the toddler who shrieks in terror at this bearded stranger. The very young child for whom you carefully shopped may be more interested in the package wrapping than its contents.

Pay attention to and respect your child's reactions and avoid taking his or her preferences personally. Your responsiveness to your child's needs and feelings will leave a more lasting impression than any gift you buy.

- Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Halloween Safety Tips... click address below.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/octhalloween.htm

Preschooler Imaginary Fears

As many children reach the age of 4 they develop a preoccupation with imaginary fears. Monsters under the bed, bad men in the closet, on and on the list can go.

As parents we know there are no monsters in the house. The problem is it is easy for us to expect our preschooler to accept our rational explanations about the non-existence of monsters and then get over their fear based on our explanation. Unfortunately, the preschooler mind does not work this way.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1. Don't expect your child to be able to reason away his/her fears as you do. They can't.
2. Never ridicule or belittle your child's fears, no matter how frustrated you get when dealing with them.  Doing this will likely make your child afraid to make his/her fears known to you, which may result in their being afraid to come to you with legitimate fears.
3. Be patient and supportive. Ask your child when they are scared, "What will make you feel better?"

- Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Creating Oral Health Awareness for 60 years

National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) turns 60 this year. Each February, since 1949, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.  NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Summer Chores

School has begun, vacations are over and most of us are settling back into a system  of normalcy after a busy holiday season.

But don’t get too comfortable just yet.

Reality has set in again as children have headed back to school and mom and dad return to work. 

Hopefully, you are keeping safety as a priority.  Always drive carefully in School Zones, when schools are open, and never drive drunk.  

Now, we must be especially careful as the roads at times become treacherous.
                                  

Mosquito Remedy

Summer is ending but we may be outside through the Labor Day holiday and into September, and  may still  be experiencing  mosquitoes which resulted from an extremely wet late winter and spring.  Pass this on to anyone who likes sitting out in the evening or when they're having a cook-out. 

 None of us like those pesky mosquitoes, especially now that they have the potential to carry the West Nile Virus?  Here's a tip  given at a recent gardening forum. Put some water in a white dinner plate and add a couple drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish detergent.  Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area. 

Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy/water mixture, and usually within about 10 feet of the plate.  

Check this out---it works just super!

Pass it on.

"The most common injuries on Halloween are eye injuries from sharp objects, burns from flammable costumes, and injuries from collisions with motor vehicles," said Dr. J. Brian Hancock, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "To ensure a safer Halloween, parents and caregivers should follow important safety measures."

• Make sure you see all the candy BEFORE your child consumes it. Avoid candy not wrapped in its original wrapper, as well as all fruit.
• Make sure your child stays on the sidewalks as much as possible (off streets) and obeys all traffic signals.
• Discuss the importance of staying together in a group. Require at least one adult to serve as chaperone during candy gathering, and forbid children from accepting rides from strangers or visiting unfamiliar homes.
• Avoid costumes that could cause children to trip, such as baggy pants, long hems, high heels, and over-sized shoes.
• Avoid costume contact lenses.
• Avoid masks. If your child must wear one, make sure it is well ventilated and does not impair his or her vision.
• Make sure costume fabric, wigs, and beards are made of flame-resistant materials, such as nylon or polyester.
• Make sure costumes are visible at night; avoid dark colors. Add reflective tape to the costume so your child is more visible to motor vehicles.
• Check accessories such as swords, knives, wands and other pointed objects are made from flexible materials and have dulled edges.
  
  "The American College of Emergency Physicians also recommends children "trick or treat" at churches, shopping malls, schools, or other types of community sponsored events," said Dr. Hancock. "This helps eliminate children's interaction with strangers and allows for constant adult supervision."

Click the address below to see Dancing Reindeer - then click each reindeer.

http://web.icq.com/shockwave/0,,4845,00.swf

I Am Special.

Raising a child includes not only nurturing him intellectually, but also socially and emotionally. You can help your child become a competent, confidant individual by giving your child a strong sense of self and fostering independence, but also by encouraging him to make friends and teaching him to share.

All children are unique. By celebrating individuality you teach tolerance and help kids feel good about themselves.

Next time we will discuss ways to help your child build a positive self-esteem.

Learn some simple ways to help boost your childrens' self esteem. A confident 
child will become a successful, happy adult.

Tips to Boost Your Children's Self- esteem
                            

AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN!

Repetition fuels your toddler's memory, confidence, motor skills, and understanding of the world.

You have assembled a library to rival the kid's section of Barnes and Noble but your toddler still reaches for the same book every night.  Your CD player is set on repeat because she/he loves to listen to one tune over and over. As you prepare dinner, you wonder, "Why does she/he open and close the cupboard door 100 times?"

Your toddler's love of repetition may at times annoy you, but it's actually a very normal and healthy part of her/his development.  "Toddlers crave repetition because that is how they learn, "says Daniel Kohen, M.D., director of the behavioral pediatrics program at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis.

December 8-14 was National Hand Washing Awareness Week! Initiated by Henry the Hand Foundation and its founder, family practitioner Dr. William Sawyer, National Hand Washing Awareness Week is designed to promote the importance of good hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections. Help stop the spread of germs by following Henry the Hand's 4 Principles of Hand Awareness:

1) WASH your hands when they are dirty and BEFORE eating.

2) DO NOT cough into your hands.

3) DO NOT sneeze into your hands.
(If a tissue is not handy, pull open the collar of your shirt and  sneeze into the inside of the shirt.)

4) Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose or mouth!

 Have your child sing Happy Birthday to him/herself once while washing his/her hands to insure a thorough washing.  Make it fun and let's keep it going!

Build a solid constitution and a good attitude. Learn how to start or maintain a healthful routine of exercise and good-eating habits.

- M. Ellman

How to handle injuries or serious medical problems of your child's caretaker.

Injuries or serious medical problems are events that are out of the realm of normal human experiences and, from a psychological standpoint, are traumatic enough to produce stress in anyone, young children included.

Since children do not live in a vacuum, it is important to consider the effects of such events on the child.  We, as parents, must know that 'our reaction' to the event is key to the child.  We must also learn to identify psychological or physical signs of the stress.

As parents, we also must remember that it is both normal and expected that children of all ages will, at one time or another, encounter various situations which they will  experience as either fearful or anxiety producing.  Indeed, these fears and anxieties are quite common and, in many instances, are closely linked to your child's developmental age. A variety of research studies over the years have consistently found that children of varying ages usually report having between five to ten fears or more. These fears and anxieties will typically be somewhat different in their focus, frequency, and form depending upon the age and temperament of your child.

Very young children (ages 1-3) typically experience fears associated with strangers, loud noises, separation from caregivers, and new situations while preschoolers and early elementary aged children may have fears and anxieties associated with animals, darkness, parental separation, monsters and ghosts, and things such as lightning, thunder, injuries etc. Usually older elementary aged children may also experience fear and anxiety associated with  physical illness. 

Children in the particular developmental group( ages 3 to 5) may be intensely upset about a sense of loss and security and will often have many different ways of expressing their anxiety i.e. thumb sucking, bed wetting, clinging, night terrors, whining, stomach aches and other physical complaints, and worry about their parents' or their own health. 

Strategies to Assist Your Child:

Although many of these fears and anxieties are to be expected and will be of short duration, as parents you can still actively assist your child in facing these situations and in successfully mastering them.
1. Label the Anxiety:
Provide your child with a "name" for the feeling that they are experiencing when they encounter a fearful and anxiety-inducing situation. Acknowledge to them that you believe them when they say they are worried or frightened and that it is all right to feel anxious, nervous, etc. Never attempt to belittle your child's feelings or suggest that their feelings are unimportant.2. Explain the Situation in age appropriate ways:

Explain the situation which is creating stress or anxiety to your child. Explain also what anxiety is and the facts about it. Reassure them that the feelings will eventually go away and that everybody has them sometimes when in situations such as this one.
Children need informed and supportive parents and adults to help them and may  need parental  interaction to help them find ways to help them talk about the fear. This often relieves anxiety and improves the ability to talk about the good things they remember. 

3. Serve as a Positive Role Model:
As your child will naturally look to you for guidance and assistance in these situations remember that you can serve as a positive role model and teacher in demonstrating to your child effective ways to cope. Keep this in mind when you, yourself are faced with your own fearful or anxiety-inducing situations or when you are with your child and he/she is experiencing these feelings. Showing your child by your actions that these situations can be successfully faced will serve to give your child a reassuring message that while fears and anxieties can initially produce unsettling feelings and physical sensations they also can be handled effectively and will eventually go away. Assuring your child of your good health  with a sense of calmness and self-confidence will serve to reduce their uncertainty and bolster their own feelings of positive mastery.

Winter weather is here...
                                                         

Cold and Flu Prevention Tips

We are in the midst of cold and flu season.  Children's immune systems are still developing, making them even more susceptible to winter ills.
Most all pediatricians recommend that your child wash her/his hands a minimum of four times a day.  Each time your children are involved in activities that include extended interaction with others, they should wash their hands, especially if they have sneezed or coughed into their hands.  A good suggestion for them is to have them lift the collar of their shirt and 'sneeze inside' the shirt to prevent the droplets from escaping.  Also a good suggestion, is to have them sing Happy Birthday,  in its entirety,  to themselves while washing  their hands to ensure a thorough wash. 

 Let's try to make the 'common' cold 'uncommon'.

Does My Child Need Medicine For A Cold?

Not every cold needs medicine. Most common cold viruses run their course in seven to 10 days with or without medication. While some over-the-counter (OTC) medications may make your child more comfortable and help them eat and rest better, others may trigger allergic reactions or changes for the worse in sleeping, eating and behavior.

Use your parental good judgment when your child is sick. Talk with your pharmacist about (OTC) medications and consult your pediatrician if you feel your child has more than a cold.

ALWAYS consult your pediatrician and/or pharmacist if you have questions about symptoms of illness and all medications.

Giving Children Medicine

When giving children medicine a sense of vigilance is of great importance. Parents need to be alert to factors like giving the medicine at the right time, at the right dose, avoiding interactions between drugs, checking for tampering of the container and asking your child's doctor or the pharmacist about any concerns you may have.

Given incorrectly, drugs may be ineffective or harmful.

"The most important thing for parents is to know what the drug is, how to use it, and what reactions to look for," says Paula Botstein, M.D., pediatrician and acting director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Drug Evaluation III.

ALWAYS consult your pediatrician and/or pharmacist if you have questions about medication. 

Winter Safety Tips: Frostbite

A child can develop frostbite before they realize it. It is important for you to be aware of the symptoms.

Symptoms of frostbite:


1) The skin obtains a white or blue tint
2) This most commonly occurs in the fingers, toes, ears and nose (but is not limited to these areas).

Always consult your health provider for information regarding treatment of frostbite.

Burn Prevention tips:  Click the following site for important information.

http://www.shrinershq.org/prevention/burntips/index.html

World Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding: Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies is the theme of  La Leche League International (LLLI) and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding.
 LLLI is a nonprofit organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, and mother-to-mother support to more than 300,000 women, each month, in 63 countries around the world. Numerous studies have shown the benefit of breastfeeding for both mother and child. If you are expecting, you may want to talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.

For more information, click here to visit LLLI's website.

 M. Ellman

Supporting Your Left-handed Child
How can you best support your left-handed child in those early years as s/he learns to navigate a right-handed world?

Be supportive, more than anything else. It is O.K. for your child to realize they are somewhat different when it comes to handedness, but help them understand different does not mean better or worse. If your child has an issue with their left-handedness they might benefit from knowing that many famous people were/are left-handed and that there are even benefits to being left-handed.

As adults, we know handedness is a total non-issue in the big picture of life. But, your left-handed child may go through an initial period where they adjust, both mentally and physically, to this difference about them. Support them as they do this.

Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Scared at Night

 As most of us know, many preschool children have the habit at night, when they get scared, of waking their parents to take care of the scary thing.  There is a new book which may be helpful to parents.

The book, entitled "The Very Noisy Night", is written by Diana Hendry and illustrated by Jane Chapman.  One reviewer commented, "this book will delight youngsters frightened by things that go bump in the night". The book uses laughter to begin to familiarize the child with a new situation which helps to break down his/her fears and is a fun read for all.

How Tall Is Your Child?

A 2002 University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing study found that children are measured accurately by medical professionals only about 30% of the time.

Children should be measured against a wall, preferably with no shoes on and heels pressed together. Your child should stand upright and look straight ahead. Children under two should lie down on a firm surface to be measured.

While inaccurate height measurements are usually not a big issue there are cases where accurate size does matter. It is possible that an inaccurate measurement could result in an unnecessary referral by your child's doctor to a pediatric specialist. An inaccurate measurement could also result in your child's doctor missing a problem.

- Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Early childhood programs can help parents understand and deal with the full range of young children's emerging social repertoires. Parents often need help in addressing the common aggressive behaviors of young children in a nonjudgmental and constructive manner. We, as Educators, can encourage parents to provide regular opportunities for children to develop productive and sustained friendships by providing continuity of access to potential friends, inviting friends or potential friends to play at home, and helping children to continue to see good friends even if they lose daily and convenient contact. 

Aggression and cooperation represent two common critical features in the child's social domain.  Both emerge from the child's strong developmental push to initiate and maintain relationships with other children, beginning at a very early age. Peer relationships provide critical opportunities for children to learn to manage conflict and work towards establishing intimacy. Aggression and cooperation are two possible strategies for dealing with the normal conflicts of early peer interactions. Both have important roots in early family interactions, both are responsive to adult expectations and values, and both can be responsive to environmental factors.

1. "Aggression" is defined here as any intentional behavior that results in physical or mental injury to any person or animal, or in damage to or destruction of property. Aggressive actions can be
   
   • accidental actions, in which there is no intentionality;
   • instrumental actions, in which the child deliberately employs aggression in pursuit of a goal; or
   • hostile actions, in which the child acts to cause harm to another person.
     
   Because peer interactions in their earliest forms emerge from play in which infants treat each other as they would treat a toy or interesting object--for example, one baby reaches over and grabs the cheek of another--unintentional aggression is a common and natural form of behavior for infants and toddlers. These accidental behaviors can enable young children to achieve desired results (for example, grabbing a toy from another child) and, in a short period of time, can easily develop into instrumental forms of aggression.
   
   Aggressive behavior is a deterrent to friendships and social success. Studies indicate that young children cite aggressive behavior as a significant reason for disliking others. Research also indicates that aggressive behavior is responsive to environmental influences and can be encouraged or discouraged by experiences in home and school.
   
   Aggression should not be confused with assertion--behavior through which a child maintains and defends his or her own rights and concerns. Assertive behavior reflects the child's developing competence and autonomous functioning and represents an important form of developmental progress. Assertiveness also affords the young child a healthy form of self-defense against becoming the victim of the aggressions of others.
   
   Much evidence suggests that children who exhibit instrumental and hostile forms of aggression during the preschool years have been exposed, in early family interactions, to adults who encourage, model, or condone aggression by using discipline techniques that are punitive, rigid, and authoritarian; ignoring or permitting aggressive actions by the child and other children; providing or tolerating aggressive toys or aggressive images from television, movies, and books in the child's surroundings; or modeling aggression in their own interpersonal interactions.
   
2. "Cooperation" is defined here as any activity that involves the willing interdependence of two or more children.
   
   It should be distinguished from compliance, which may represent obedience to rules or authority, rather than intentional cooperation. When children willingly collaborate in using materials, for example, their interactions are usually quite different than when they are told to "share."
   
   Cooperation, like aggression, has its roots in very early, even pre-verbal, social interactions. Studies on the origins of pro-social behaviors, which include cooperation, suggest that family variables related to the development of pro-social behaviors include parental discipline techniques that are authoritative rather than authoritarian and that offer the child free expression of affection and nurturance. These techniques involve the use of high expectations; competent communication; and inductive reasoning, in which parents engage children in explanations of the reasons for family rules and limits. Children who demonstrate a number of cooperative strategies and can attend to the needs of others while also asserting and defending their own rights are more likely to be socially successful and to establish reciprocal, mutually satisfying friendships than are other children.

• label and verbalize their feelings and those of others,
• develop problem-solving approaches to conflicts,
• seek and obtain assistance when in difficulty, and
• notice the consequences of their aggressive actions for their victims.

• acknowledge children's efforts to initiate social interactions in appropriate ways,
• affirm helping behaviors,
• use positive discipline techniques and communicate their power,
• communicate positive regard and high expectations for all young children, and
• support each child's struggle to resolve interpersonal conflicts.

• promote cooperative, rather than competitive, endeavors;
• foster dramatic play techniques and reflective strategies for thinking about and discussing social interactions; and
• enable children to get to know and trust each other and work towards truly interdependent activity.

Why Preschoolers Wet the Bed At Night

Parents often are befuddled trying to figure out why their 4 or 5 year old, who has been potty trained for 2-3 years, continues to wet the bed at night. There can be any number of reasons for this but one overlooked one is fear.

Some children wake up before they wet but are too scared to get out of bed and go to the bathroom. Imagine how scary a big, dark house can seem to a preschooler in the middle of the night?!

Good Parenting Action Points

1) Talk with your child to see if fear could be the problem.

2) If so, try nightlights for the hallway and the bathroom.
   (a) If you install nightlights and this does not work consider this idea. Place a training potty beside your child's bed. Include a nightlight and toilet paper. This way, all your child has to do is go from their bed to the potty, just inches from their bed.

3) A flashlight by your child's bed can also be a fun motivator and give them a sense of control over the dark.

It may be necessary to get up with your child the first few times but usually they will catch on quick.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Food Allergy

Imagine eating a peanut and suddenly you can’t breathe. This is how a person with a severe peanut allergy might feel. Peanut and other food allergies affect approximately 6 to 8 percent of children younger than 4 years of age and approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population beyond the first decade of life. Furthermore, food allergy accounts for approximately 2,000 hospitalizations and 200 deaths each year in the United States alone. A food allergy occurs when your body’s immune system mistakenly believes that a harmless substance, in this case a food item, is harmful. In its attempt to protect the body, it creates specific "antibodies" to that food. The next time the individual eats that food, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals in order to protect the body. These chemicals trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and/or cardiovascular system. Common symptoms can include a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after the person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. A food allergy is a true emergency. Even if subtle at first, it can develop into a major reaction. If you or someone near you is having symptoms of a food allergy, call for an ambulance immediately.

- M. Ellman

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the unexplained death of an infant under one year of age. SIDS claims the lives of nearly 6,000 infants in the United States every year. In fact, SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants one month to one year old. There is no obvious cause of death SIDS, but experts do know that there are certain risk factors, such as a baby sleeping on its stomach. One of the most important ways to reduce your baby's risk of dying from SIDS is to place it on its back or side to sleep. Although your baby may sleep better on his or her stomach, doing so greatly increases the chance of SIDS. Talk to your doctor about SIDS and how you can reduce the risk. For more information, write Back to Sleep, P.O. Box 29111, Washington, D.C. 20040, or call, toll-free: 1-800-505-CRIB.

Click the address below for more information on SIDS

http://www.sidscenter.org/SIDSFACT.HTM
 M. Ellman

Stuttering

What do Bruce Willis, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, and Carly Simon have in common? They all stutter. In fact, more than three million Americans stutter. Luckily, there is help and support for people who stutter. The Stuttering Foundation of America provides free online resources, services, and support to those who stutter and their families, as well as aid for research into the causes of stuttering. They are the largest nonprofit charitable organization in the world working towards the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering, reaching over a million people annually. There is no single known cause for stuttering. However, a qualified clinician can help someone who stutters make significant progress toward fluency. For more information, contact the Stuttering Foundation at (800) 992-9392 or by visiting their website using the link provided below.

Click below for the Stuttering Foundation of America's website.

http://www.stutteringhelp.org

- M. Ellman

These tips are for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical attention or professional diagnoses. If you have health concerns, or want to start an exercise program, please consult your health care provider

Donating Old Toys To Charity 

Christmas will soon be here and the clutter of toys in your child's room continues to mount.. Chances are this clutter is beginning to get on your nerves as you might be thinking about what more toys will mean.  Consider having your child donate older toys to a charitable organization.

Children may be willing to donate to a good cause some of their hard-to-depart-with older toys that they refuse to throw away.

As Julie Morgenstern, co-author of the book, "Organizing From the Inside Out For Teens", says, "It's easier to give away treasured items than just throw them away".

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Explain to your child how other, less fortunate children will benefit when your child donates their older, less used toys.

2) Involve your child in the actual donation process as much as possible.

3) Praise them for their concern and compassion for the less-fortunate after they make the donation.

4) If the organization is non-profit your donation may be tax-deductible. Check with each individual charity you donate to.

5) Make sure the toys are not broken and beyond repair. Charities should not be used as a garbage dump. Most non-profits do not have the resources to repair broken toys.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Seeing Christmas From Your Child's Perspective

Try to view the holidays through the eyes of your child. Children experience the holidays differently at different ages. For example, the infant who rests calmly in Santa's arms may become the toddler who shrieks in terror at this bearded stranger. The very young child for whom you carefully shopped may be more interested in the package wrapping than its contents.

Pay attention to and respect your child's reactions and avoid taking his or her preferences personally. Your responsiveness to your child's needs and feelings will leave a more lasting impression than any gift you buy.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

The Best Way To Stop A Nosebleed

By this time of year, many children have been living for several months in dry homes and dry classrooms due to artificial heating and lack of humidity. This can lead to nose bleeds in some children.

Dr. Susan Nelson of the Ochsner Clinic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana says the best way to stop a nosebleed is to tightly pinch the nose. Tilting the head back does not stop the nosebleed; it instead causes the blood run down the throat.

Prevent nosebleeds by using a humidifier if your house is extremely dried-out due to running the heater constantly.

As always, consult your child's pediatrician/family practitioner regarding any questions about his/her health.

Why is My Baby Crying

Maybe the most frustrating aspect of parenting a baby is they cannot tell you why they are crying. Understanding the common causes for crying in babies can help parents develop a checklist that might help in identifying the cause of the crying.

Checklist For Crying Babies:

1. Is your baby hungry?
2. Does her/his diaper need changing?
3. Is she/he over-stimulated? (i.e., too much activity, etc.)
4. Is she/he too cold or hot?
5. Is she/he not feeling well (teething, etc)?
6. Some other reason

As always, use your parental common sense when dealing with your child. Always consult your pediatrician if needed.

Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist  

National Poison Prevention Week

March 16 marks the beginning of National Poison Prevention Week. Each year, unintentional poisonings from medicines and household chemicals kill about 30 children and prompt more than 1 million calls to the nation's poison control centers. The theme for this week is "Children Act Fast...So Do Poisons!" This means that parents must always be watchful when household chemicals or drugs are being used. Many incidents happen when adults are using a product but are distracted (for example, by the telephone or the doorbell) for just a few moments. Children act fast, and adults must make sure that household chemicals and medicines are stored away from children at all times. If you think someone has been poisoned from a medicine or household chemical, call 800-222-1222 for your Poison Control Center. This new national toll-free number works from anyplace in the U.S. 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Keep this number on all phones in your home. Of course, if you are having an emergency, dial 9-1-1 if that system is active in your area.
800-222-1222 for your Poison Control Center. This new national toll-free number works from anyplace in the U.S. 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Keep this number on all phones in your home. Of course, if you are having an emergency, dial 9-1-1 if that system is active in your area.
800-222-1222 for your Poison Control Center. This new national toll-free number works from anyplace in the U.S. 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Keep this number on all phones in your home. Of course, if you are having an emergency, dial 9-1-1 if that system is active in your area.

Click here for more information on poison prevention.

 M. Ellman

Bite Your Tongue

Your tongue has many nerve endings and blood vessels. That is why biting your tongue can cause severe pain and bleeding. If you bite your tongue, clean the area gently and then apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling. If the swelling or bleeding does not stop immediately, seek emergency medical treatment.

- M. Ellman

A Young Child's Mistakes and Accidents Are Rarely Intentional

Some times it seems our preschool children make mistakes intentionally, just to irritate parents. Often though, there is another explanation for the mistakes and accidents our children make.

It is easy for us, as parents, to forget what it is like to be small. For instance, children do not have the coordination that adults have achieved. Five and six year olds do not normally spill cups of milk because they want to spill; they spill because they haven't yet developed the coordination to prevent such accidents.

Coordination will come, but not on demand. Practice is necessary and accidents are part of the learning process.  Please be a patient and positive parent.

Parenting can be hard, demanding work. There are times when most all of us wonder if we are cut out for such a challenge. Keeping your attitude as positive as possible and putting difficult situations in a more doable frame can go a long way in keeping us going when we feel like we can't go any more.

For example, when you think, "Being a parent keeps me from doing things I would like to do", replace that thought with, "My kids are growing up fast and will be gone before I know it. I will never have another opportunity to be the influence on them I am now".

This kind of positive reframing of our negative thoughts and attitudes has been proven to actually change ingrained attitudes for the better.

The Importance of Positive Parental Attention

It's easy to notice our children when they are not what we want them to be, or when they are doing something we don't want them to be doing. We can get so caught up in watching for bad behavior and correcting our kids that we forget to notice what they do well. This can, at worst, cause us to forget the positive, likable qualities our children have.

All children need positive recognition from their parents, the people who love them the most. Loving them is not enough. We need to let them know what we like about them more often than we let them know what we don't like.

One child guidance specialist suggests sandwiching every negative comment that we must make between two positive statements. Try to find times throughout the day to recognize your child for his/her positive traits and qualities.

How Much Toothpaste?

How much toothpaste should you put on your toothbrush? According to the American Dental Association, the quantity of toothpaste is not as important as the quality of your brushing technique. However, they do have guidelines for toothpaste amounts. Adults should apply just enough toothpaste to cover the length of the bristles on their brush. Children should use much less toothpaste -- the size of a pea or the size of the nail on their little finger. Ask your dentist to show you how to properly brush your teeth.

- M. Ellman

Does My Child Need Medicine For A Cold?

Not every cold needs medicine. Most common cold viruses run their course in seven to 10 days with or without medication. While some over-the-counter (OTC) medications may make your child more comfortable and help them eat and rest better, others may trigger allergic reactions or changes for the worse in sleeping, eating and behavior.

Use your parental good judgment when your child is sick. Talk with your pharmacist about OTC medications and consult your pediatrician if you feel your child has more than a cold.

ALWAYS consult your pediatrician and/or pharmacist if you have questions about symptoms of illness and all medications.

Giving Children Medicine

When giving children medicine a sense of vigilance is of great importance. Parents need to be alert to factors like giving the medicine at the right time, at the right dose, avoiding interactions between drugs, checking for tampering of the container and asking your child's doctor or the pharmacist about any concerns you may have.

Given incorrectly, drugs may be ineffective or harmful.

"The most important thing for parents is to know what the drug is, how to use it, and what reactions to look for," says Paula Botstein, M.D., pediatrician and acting director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Drug Evaluation III.

ALWAYS consult your pediatrician and/or pharmacist if you have questions about medication.

Prescription Drug Safety

The National Patient Safety Foundation has gone on record as saying up to 98,000 Americans die annually due to preventable medical errors, and that medical errors are the 8th leading cause of death, ahead of breast cancer or AIDS.

When you pick up a prescription medicine for your child it is a good idea to check the prescription after it has been filled.

Does it look right? Is it the color and size you were expecting? (refill, etc.) If you have ANY questions about the medication, ask the pharmacist to explain.

ALWAYS consult your pediatrician and/or pharmacist if you have questions about medication.

Dr. William Walker, Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Winter Safety Tips: Frostbite

A child can develop frostbite before they realize it. It is important for you to be aware of the symptoms.

Symptoms of frostbite include                                                     ‹

1) The skin obtaining a white or blue tint
2) This most commonly occurs in the fingers, toes, ears and nose (but is not limited to these areas).
Always consult your health provider for information regarding treatment of frostbite.

Winter Safety Tips: Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a life-threatening medical condition, which occurs when the amount of heat produced by the body becomes less than the amount of heat lost. At worst, this can result in the shutting down of vital body organs.

Symptoms of hypothermia include:

1) Uncontrollable shivering or no shivering at all
2) Slurred speech
3) Incoherence
4) Drowsiness
5) Poor coordination

Hypothermia is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if your child develops these symptoms.

Winter Safety Tips: Keeping Warm

It's cold out there right now for most of us. Remember these 2 Tips for keeping your child warm.

1) Make sure your child wears a hat. The body loses 50% of its heat through the head.

2) Wear mittens instead of gloves. They allow the fingers to touch one another, keeping the hands warmer.

Winter Safety Tips: Low Body Temperature       ‹

Keep a thermometer handy during the winter months. If your child is exposed to the cold for a long period of time and becomes sluggish and/or less mentally responsive than normal wrap them in a blanket immediately and take their temperature. An ear thermometer may be a better alternative for taking the temp of a sleepy, sluggish child.

If your child's body temperature is anywhere near 95 degrees Fahrenheit call 911 (or take to the Emergency Room) immediately. This is a medical emergency.

If their body temp is below 97 degrees Fahrenheit but over 95 degrees, be safe and consult a medical professional by phone immediately.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage &

National Burn Awareness Week 
                                                   
Today, February 2, marks the beginning of National Burn Awareness Week. More than two million people are burned each year in the United States. 60,000 of these victims require hospitalization and many die from their injuries. Unfortunately, children account for more than 35 percent of all fire and burn injuries and deaths. Fires and burns are the second leading cause of accidental death for children under age 4, and the third leading cause of death for all children under age 19. There are many steps you can take to prevent burns and other injuries. Follow the links below for more details.


 M. Ellman

Resolving To Have Physically Healthy Children

There is no better role model than a parent. Nutritionists say parents need to take the lead when it comes to making New Year's resolutions regarding one's health, not just for themselves, but also for their children.

The alternative is a continued rise in chronic disease and overall poor physical health. Marjorie Sawicki, MS, RD, of the Saint Louis University School of Allied Health Professions states:
"In as little as 15 years, when today's teenagers hit their 30s, we could see another rise in heart disease, diabetes and cancer. I don't think you will ever see these chronic diseases go away until we can remedy the problem of poor fitness and diet. While medical research tries to find treatments, I prefer to address prevention."

Make resolutions with your children. Two important elements for a healthier child are healthy food habits and regular physical activity.

- Dr. William Walker, Jr.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

For Tips on Car Seat Safety  -Click or Type in - the following address:

http://www.carseat.org

Suitable For Children

 With so many channels and shows to choose from, it becomes increasingly difficult for parents to know which TV shows are suitable for children.  One Web site that provides help with this problem is   www.Parentstv.org

This site evaluates primetime shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PAX and WB.  Each show is evaluated on three content criteria -- sex, violence and language, with either a green, yellow or red light given for each area.  An overall rating is also provided.

A Good Website For New Dads

Being a first-time dad is a real learning experience. Most men feel like they are truly at square 1 when it comes to knowing and learning what it means to be a good father and parent.

There is a good website devoted exclusively to providing helpful information to new dads. Recommend this to a new dad.

Click Here For More Information

Dr. William Walker, Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Rules for Safe Re-fueling

Hopefully, most of you have heard that it is unsafe to smoke or use your cell phone while pumping gas.  Now there is a another safety warning you should know about concerning static electricity.

Four Rules for Safe Refueling

1. Turn off your engine
2. Do not smoke.
3. Do not use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off.
4. Do not re-enter your vehicle during fueling.

Everyone should be aware of fires as a result of 'static electricity' at gas pumps.

1. Out of 150 cases, almost all of them are women.

2. Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to pull the nozzle our the fire started, as a result of static.

3. Most had on rubber-soled shoes.

4. Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished.  This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.

5. Do not ever use cell phones when pumping gas.

6. It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when connected with static charges.

7. There were 29 fires where the vehicle was re-entered and nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and model.  Some resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.

8. Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.

It is stressed to NEVER get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping.  If you absolutely have to get in your vehicle while gas is pumping, make certain you get out, close the door, TOUCH THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out.  This way the static from your body will be discharged before you ever remove the nozzle.  This is very important for you and your friends to know, especially those who have children in the car with them while pumping gas and may not be able to get the children out in time.

Pool  Safety         

Families with residential pools need to be aware of all the safety tips regarding in-home hazards, and also be aware of how to protect young children from the dangers a pool poses.

The key to preventing a swimming pool tragedy is to have layers of protection.  This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency,  i.e. knowing CPR etc.

If your child is missing, always remember : 

Safety Rule # 1
LOOK IN THE POOL FIRST    

Every second is critical when a child is under water.  The difference between a serious scare and death or disability is truly measured in precious seconds.  Don't waste those seconds doing anything else until you check and then double-check your pool!

Spa and Hot Tub Safety

If your family has spa or hot tub, always secure safety covers and barriers to prevent children from gaining access to these areas when not in use.  Some Non-rigid covers, such as solar covers, can allow a small child to slip in the water and the cover would appear to still be in place.

Baby Walkers – Not Safe or Healthy

Baby walkers, those wheeled seats that allow infants to move around with their feet on the floor, may delay some developmental milestones such as crawling, walking alone, and standing.

In a study published in the June 22, 2002 issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers report that infants who used baby-walkers tended to stand on their own a full 3 to 4 weeks later than infants who did not use walkers.

Baby walkers have also been associated with numerous injuries and even deaths. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics has already called for a ban on the manufacture and sale of baby walkers with wheels.

 If you own a baby walker with wheels, throw it out.
Click here to read the American Academy of Pediatrics' fact sheet on baby walkers.

- M. Ellman

This is a great time to clean out the medicine cabinet.  Discard any medication that you no longer use or that is expired.  Most importantly, make sure that all of of the  expired medicine is out of the reach of children.               

1-800-222-1222  ( Poison Control)   
 Copy this number and stick on your refrigerator or near your telephone.

With the beginning of summer,  it is once again time to remind all parents about the need for surveillance and plans of safety for your children.

Sunburn Burns

It's summer.  It's sunny.  It's great to be outdoors, and it is easy to get sunburned.  Remember:  you usually do not feel sunburn until it is too late.  Don't spoil a good time by letting your children get burned.  Liberally apply sunscreen with a high SPF ( 30 or greater).  Reapply it often.  Most importantly, limit your child's exposure to the sun, especially during mid-day when the sun is usually strongest.

Should Sunscreen Be Applied To Infants?

Before 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) took the position that sunscreen should not be used on children younger than 6 months of age.  In August 1999 the AAP revised its position stating that it may be safe to use sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months of age when adequate clothing and shade are not readily available.

Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts are still the top recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn.  However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen to small areas, such as the infant's face and back of the hands.

Sunscreens have an expiration date for good reason.  They have a shelf life of about two years after which the chemicals begin to separate from the solution.  If your sunscreen feels gritty, the solution has separated and should be discarded.

Source:  American Academy of Pediatrics

Click here for more information:

___________________________________________  

Convincing Your Child To Use Sunscreen
A recent study* finds many preteens and teens do not use sunscreen when they tan. This greatly increases their chances of developing skin cancer when they get older.

If your kids are resistant to using sunscreen what can you do to change their mind?

1) Set the example yourself. Always use sunscreen when tanning.
2) Start when they are very young. Get them in the habit and mindset in the preschool years of always using sunscreen on exposed areas when in the sun for any significant length of time.
3) Reward them with positive reinforcement when they do use sunscreen.

*Pediatrics, June 2002 (medical journal)

With the return to school comes the nightly challenge of getting your child to bed at a decent time.

The problem is kids can fall into poor sleep habits during the summer. Late night TV and/or computer usage and sleeping late the next morning as a result become the desired lifestyle for kids over the summer. This habit can be very challenging to break once school resumes.

If your child is resisting the transition from a late night summer bedtime to an earlier one now that school has started consider this:

It may be easier to go for a gradual transition in bedtimes than an abrupt one. Move your child's bedtime up 30 minutes from what it was during the summer. For high schoolers move it up just 15 minutes per week. A gradual change may make the earlier bedtime hardly noticeable.

Good Parenting Action Points

1) Understand that many children may need strict intervention from their parents to help them break their summer bedtime habits.

2) Despite their protests towards your interventions, remind yourself that you are doing them a big favor. Lack of sleep is associated with poor school performance, increased probability of accidents and a general all-around foul mood.

3) Sleep-needs vary from child to child. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following general guidelines for particular age groups:

Elementary school age:      10-12  hours sleep per night
Middle/Junior High:           9-11  hours sleep per night
Teens:                                    8.5-9.5  hours sleep per night

4) Encourage a quiet time about 30 minutes before bed. The focus should be on relaxing versus stimulating activities. 
TV, exercise, computer and telephone use should be discouraged.

5) Limit caffeine intake from about 7p.m. onward.

6) Sleep experts* say a warm bath about 90 minutes before bed increases chances of a good night's sleep. Cooling the body's core temperature promotes healthy sleep.

Taking a warm bath causes the body temp to go up, followed by a drop. This curve in temp promotes delta sleep – a very deep sleep.

Remember to add 15-30 minutes for falling asleep.

*David Franco, M.D. Sleep Disorders Center Baptist Medical Center South, Montgomery, AL.

Children's eyes are considerably more sensitive to the harmful effects of the sun than yours.  The culprit is Ultraviolet light (UV) and children's eyes need to be protected from it.  Make certain young children wear a wide-brimmed hat if possible.  This will allow protection not only to the eyes but to the scalp, face and neck areas as well.  Noted pediatrician Dr. Barry Sears makes a very surprising point about the possible dangers of children wearing toy sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun.  Dr. Sears reports that toy sunglasses may be worse than none at all, because the toy variety simply darken the eye area, causing baby' pupils to widen and allow more damaging light to reach their lenses and retinas of their eyes.
If your child wears sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun be certain that he/she only has sunglasses with 100-percent UV filtration.

Source:  Barry Sears, M.D.

Summer Visits To Museums And Libraries 

Summers are a great time to visit museums and libraries with your child.  Check your local newspaper for a list of museums in your area and special exhibits they may be hosting. Talk to your child about which exhibits interest them most.  Call the museum and find out about a children's area.  Ask about dates and times for special classes.  If your child like working with paint, for example, find out when painting classes are being offered.

Take a notepad with you and write down your child's questions.  When you return home, take time to research the answers to these questions.  Use your local resources including the library, the Internet, or local experts.  This time together will lead into other areas of interest.

If you do not have a local museum, take your child to Paris and visit the Louvre via the Internet.  You can also visit different Smithsonian displays via the Internet.  Many large museums now display their exhibits on the Internet.  At this time the Statue of Liberty and its pedestal are closed to visitors but you can take a virtual, photo tour on the Internet by clicking the following address: www.nyctourist.com/liberty1.htm

Most libraries host weekly reading hours.  Find out when your local library hosts this time for your child's age group.  Often the librarians will invite guest speakers, arrange craft projects, or host local members of the community. to help with the program.  

Follow the program yourself and use the time to model for your child how you enjoy reading, learning and getting involved in the books that interest you.

Notice the areas your child finds interesting.  You may find that your child has interests that neither of you were aware of.

I f you library does not host such a time, schedule time each week to visit the library with your child.  Challenge him/her to read a specific number of books over the summer.  Better yet, challenge one another and set a reward that both of you can enjoy if you each meet your goals.

Along, and together, with these activities comes one of the most enjoyable aspects of summertime for kids:  'free time' that comes with it. Parents, you can maximize your child's 'free time' by realizing it works best with a little structure from you.  If you allow your child to spend all his/her 'free time' lying on the couch watching TV, for example, opportunities are lost for using this time more wisely.

If your child complains of boredom without the TV don't see this a necessarily bad.  Garrison Keillor talks of the time, as a boy, he spent on the hard-backed bench in church where he was required to sit for hours on Sundays, as a time where his imagination was developed.

It will be those times when your child has nothing to do but sit and think that they are most likely to stretch and develop his/her imagination.

• Pack full outfits in individual gallon-sized baggies - shirt, pants, underwear, socks.
   
• Pack only one piece of luggage per kid.
   
• If you're staying in more than one hotel, pack a separate smaller piece of luggage that has pjs, teddy bears, toothbrushes and other nighttime items and throw in one baggie each for fresh clothes the next morning. When you get to the hotel, you can leave the big, cumbersome luggage in the car and quickly enter and exit the hotel.

  ---

     Try these practical and cheap suggestions from the Momsminivan.com   web site. You will be glad you did.. Most young children need some new ideas for fun during long road trips. The creator of the site is a former teacher and a lifelong 'road tripper'.

•      String games - all you need is some yarn and a book showing the designs you can create. You may even remember some from your youth, like Jacob's Ladder, Cup and Saucer, or Cat's Cradle, but not too many kids do these nowadays. That is, they don't get passed on at school. So, it's up to parents now.
   
• Aluminum foil - Just bring a roll and let the kids have at it. They can make masks, balls, jewelry, sculpture, the possibilities are endless. But you have to help the kids come up with the ideas or else they may make a large crumpled ball.
   
• Make cootie catchers-these are the folded paper creations you manipulate with your fingers. You know, where you pick a color, then pick a number, and you wind up lifting a flap that tells your fortune. If you don't remember how to make them, MomsMinivan site provides instructions. They're fun to make and decorate-all you need is paper, crayons or markers, a pen or pencil, and a good imagination.

  ---

T-shirts, Kids, and Packing for Flying Vacation

     Summer's here and so is vacation time. Last tip we talked about a driving  vacation, so packing wasn't really a problem. If we took a little too much stuff, the trunk was always big enough to hold it.

     This year, though, you may be flying. Kids love flying,  but if you don't love lugging the luggage you will have  to be the 'packing cop'. The first simple rule based on years of experience.

    If you can't carry your bags comfortably for one block, then they are too heavy, and that is a short block!  A vacation is surely no time to hassle with dragging around too much luggage. Traveling for fun in the summer should tell you to pack lighter, informal clothing that can be worn day and evening and maybe  more than one day.

     Here is a rule now that you are the 'packing cop'.  CARRY ONLY YOUR BAGS! ( All right., your can break the rule occasionally when you get THE LOOK from your kids.)

    Ideally, everyone should wear t-shirts to go to the beach. Rinse out yesterday's shirts and let them dry in the sun. All can then  wear them the next day or even that night.  After all, everybody in a beach town looks sun-dried anyway. Plus, no one pays too much attention to parents with kids.  Don't ask what you can do if it rains.  Wear t-shirts to the movies.

     That's the ideal. Here's the reality. T-shirts are a good idea. Pack 'em. They roll up nicely. Everyone will spend most of the time in them, but bring bring a couple of good shirts as well. There probably  won't be enough shirts, but that leaves  room to buy new t-shirts as souvenirs from the trip.

     So, lighten your load and take less than you need. Buy a couple of new t-shirts and shorts there to have as usable souvenirs. Suggest everyone travel in a shirt that has a little age on it. That way if it gets messed up, you can just throw it away to make room for something new.....

 .. however...

Emergency 911 – Not For Everyone

Many cities use '911' as the emergency access number for police, fire, and medical emergencies. Unfortunately, not all locations use the 911 system. When traveling to other cities, be sure to find out the local number to call in the event of an emergency.

     The words "bleary-eyed" and "parents of small children" are rarely seen apart. Do your kids wake up during the night? Do they want to climb into bed with you? Do you wake up in the morning more tired than when you went to bed?

     Look to ParentCenter.com for help. You'll find suggestions on how to deal with your kids' sleepless nights. And how to regain some sleep time for yourself.

__________________________________________________________________

Seat Belts and Airbags

Want to live? Wear your seat belt! For an article published in the May 11, 2002 issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers reviewed data from all passenger-vehicle crashes in the United States between 1990 and 2000. They reported that drivers who were wearing a seat belt during an accident had a 65% less chance of dying than unbelted drivers. Having an airbag as well as wearing a seatbelt increased the chance of survival by an additional 3%. Overall, driver-side air bags were associated with just an 8% reduction in the chance of dying in an accident, regardless of whether the driver was wearing a seat belt. So don't rely on an airbag to save your life. The best protection is for all passengers to be properly buckled in at all times.

- M. Ellman

Buddy System For Single Mothers With Young Children

It has happened again – a mother living alone with a 22-month old child died leaving the toddler alone in the apartment for at least 5 days and maybe 10, according to investigators. To quote the news article*: "A 22-month-old girl named Miracle was found standing beside the decomposing remains of her pregnant mother, surviving alone for at least five days before police broke down their door, authorities said." The autopsy indicated the mother died from complications from diabetes and hypertension.

Good Parenting Action Point:

If you are a single parent with no children older than 4,  please strongly consider establishing a buddy system where someone checks on you if you are not seen or heard from for a period of time (2 days maximum).

If you are pregnant or have a chronic illness it is even more important that you do this.

*Associated Press, 6/18/02

Dr. William Walker, Jr. , Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Chocolate & Children's Teeth                

If your child is hungry for a snack chocolate may not be the tooth-destroying demon it is made out to be. When a chocolate bar, wheat crackers, potato chips, and corn chips were compared for potential tooth-damaging effects chocolate caused the least damage and potato chips the most. Why the difference?

Potato chips, wheat crackers and corn chips are composed mostly of starch, which sticks to your child's teeth. The longer it stays stuck to the teeth the more tooth-damaging acid it produces. Chocolate, on the other hand, is mainly a sugar. While sugar is not good for teeth it is very easily washed away quickly by one's saliva. Starches are resistant to being washed away.

Obviously, snacks such as fresh fruit and veggies are to be preferred to chocolate and chips, but if your only choices are between chocolate and starches go with the chocolate – in moderation of course.
                                               
Source: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism

- Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

The West Nile Virus And Your Child

The West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans via mosquito bites. While the virus can be deadly to humans with weakened immune systems the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states* that "very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus" and that "less than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill. The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito bite are extremely small."

Good Parenting Action Point:

1) There is no need to get overly alarmed regarding reports of the West Nile Virus

2) But, do take preventive measures to decrease the chances of your child being bitten by mosquitoes.

    The best way to prevent West Nile Virus is to protect your child from mosquito bites. The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following steps:

   a)  Apply insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) when you're outdoors.

   b)  Avoid applying repellent to children less than 2 years old. Use care in applying repellent to small children, and don't put repellent on their hands because it may get into their mouth or eyes and cause irritation.

   c) Read and follow the product directions whenever you use insect repellent.

     d) Wearing long-sleeved clothes and long pants treated with repellent will further reduce your risk, as will staying indoors during peak mosquito feeding hours (dusk until dawn).

     e)  Limit the number of places available for mosquitoes to lay their eggs by eliminating standing water sources from around your home.

    f)  Check to see if there is an organized mosquito control program in your area. If no program exists, work with your local government officials to establish a program. The American Mosquito Control Association can provide advice, and their book Organization for Mosquito Control is a useful reference.

Click Here For More Information

- Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

September 11... a year later.
What Happened to the World?  

Disbelief, shock, horror, anger, grief. September 11, 2001 was a day we will never forget.  All of us, including children, were affected by the day and the aftermath of fear and confusion. For some, particularly those more directly affected  or those with more stress in their lives, the trauma was deep and may always linger. For others, the trauma was less, but the memories will never disappear.  

Now that it is past, hopefully we were able to do what was helpful for our children and others.
(Excerpts: Courtesy of Bright Horizons - Family Solutions)

The anniversary of September 11 will rekindle the feelings and memories. For children, a year older and wiser, it may also provoke new feelings and memories.  Anniversaries of major events are used for lots of things, good and bad.  They can be times to commemorate and to teach, and to reflect on events and take stock of where we are today and where we are heading. Unfortunately, anniversaries are also opportunities to sensationalize and sell.  We live in a 24- hour-a-day news culture with a seemingly endless appetite for sensational news that tears at our hearts or sends shivers down our spines. As if some switch was turned on August 1, the countdown began and we are already beginning to relive the terrible day: seeing and hearing replays of the horror of the morning of September 11 and being exposed to multiple reminders of how we felt that day and the days that followed.

We also live in an entrepreneurial society where everything is a commodity for sales, including anxiety, grief and trauma.  The September 11 anniversary will also bring on a parade of experts with advice on coping with trauma and grief.  Much of the advice will be useful, but some will exaggerate both the extent and depth of the trauma experienced by most of us, making little distinction from those who were more directly affected.  This can even induce anxiety and guilt. We may feel that we should be feeling more trauma or wonder whether our children are normal in not showing signs of trauma.

How will children respond?  Young children typically draw off their parents feelings, those of others around them, and the media.  They may well experience anxiety if their parents are upset and if they are exposed to a media onslaught of images and sounds. Children under age 5 may believe it is actually happening again.  Older children may react with a toned-down version of their reaction in the aftermath of September 11: Those with strong reactions last fall are more likely to react to the anniversary.  Children (or adults) who have experienced personal loss or trauma or who are unusually empathetic may well have a much more difficult time. 

*********************************************************************

Preparing for the September 11 Anniversary

What was the most important response that we could have had for our own sake and that of our children on the anniversary of September 11? 

Take control of the event - Did we?

Decide and plan ahead on how to best revisit the terrible day, reflect on the events and the aftermath and commemorate the occasion.  As parents, it will be important to help shape your children’s experience.  You know your children and family best.

Be there for your child  -  Were you?

In times of stress or turmoil, more than anything else children of all ages need to know that we are there for them: to listen, to share our thoughts, to hold them or simply be a reassuring presence.  They need our honesty, our understanding of their unique sensibility and sensitivities, our taking the time to understand their questions and sort through their ideas and feelings, our patience and our strength.  Even teenagers need to know that we are available to help them process the information and feelings, although they may not choose to open up.  

Help your child process the revisiting of September 11, 2001 - Did you?

Find out what your child remembers about September 11, 2001 and all that has happened since. Children may need help with understanding what happened then and what is happening now and how they feel about it. Try to have conversations with open-ended questions and a real give and take, listening as much as talking. Some children may need reassurance as to their  personal safety or yours. On the other hand, many children may have minimal or no reaction at all and consider it all ancient history. If you are having strong emotional reactions, the child may be reacting to your feelings, not the events of September 11.

Moderate exposure to media -  Did you?

Parents should limit and guide their children’s exposure to the media, based on the child’s age and sensitivity. It is hard not to watch the incredible destruction or the heart-wrenching stories, but for children and some adults, the power and images may create real trauma.  Very young children may feel the event is happening for the first time and then reoccurring over and over with each new showing of crash and collapse. Older children, with new cognitive understanding, may become newly anxious and fearful about what lies in the future.  Or, equally harmful, the frequency of coverage and the exploring of every possible angle may trivialize the real tragedy and horror of the event, and discourage reflection.  

Take stock - Did you?

 acts of courage, compassion, and charity.  The anniversary is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the past year and explore what our contribution to the future might be.

Come Together as a Family  - Did you?

The terror of September 11 brought families together as we instinctively thought first of the safety of those we hold dearest.  The anniversary is a time to acknowledge that bond in whatever fashion seems appropriate to you: perhaps sit down for a special meal together during which you can  share feelings, memories, and new understandings of what is important to you. 

Commemorate - Did you?

An anniversary is an opportunity to honor the innocent victims and the heroes and to recognize all the efforts in the past year to make the world a safer and better place.  Not just the fire fighters, rescue workers, soldiers and police, but all the ordinary citizens, church workers, teachers, child care providers and children who have contributed to relief efforts here and around the world.  

Children and Stress

Some children may well have experienced stress during the 9/11 anniversary.  Supporting children during times of  stress begins with knowing the child. The best indicators of distress in children are changes in behavior not typical for the child. But remember, not all behaviors or behavior changes will stem from the crisis or revisiting of the crisis.  All the other aspects of life and development are marching on: adjusting to a new class or school, friends moving away or changing allegiances, parents worried about layoffs, or a teen not having a date all create personal stress that may eclipse societal turmoil.   Just as in the case with September 11, 2001, the one year anniversary occurred at the beginning of a new school year which was probably the most significant event in many children’s lives.

Common Children’s Reactions to Stress:

1.         Bed-wetting
2.         Fear of the dark, monsters, or animals
3.           Clinging
4.           Whining 
5.           Nightmares
6.        Toileting accidents, constipation
7.         Loss or increase of appetite
8.         Fear of being left alone; fear of strangers
9.         Confusion/indecision
10.       Testing behavior or refusal to be cooperative
11.        Nail biting or thumb sucking
12.     Irritability
13.     Loss of interest and poor concentration in school
14.      Withdrawal from peers
15.    Regressive behavior (reverting to past behaviors)
16.     Headaches or other physical complaints
17.     Increase or decrease in energy level
18.     Indifference
19.     Depression

Helping Children Cope with Stress:    A Quick Summary

1.           Be available.

2.           Provide a peaceful household.

3.           Listen, listen, and listen some more.

4.           Be honest and answer their questions – at their level.

5.           Respect differences in children – individual and age based.

6.           Encourage consistency, everyday routines, and favorite rituals.

7.           Make the environment safe for talking about feelings and thoughts.

8.           Expect and allow for all kinds of emotion.

9.           Give choices and be flexible – avoid power struggles.

10.       Allow a lot of opportunities and different media for expression.

11.       Encourage activity and play.

12.       Support the child’s friendships and social network.

13.       Be a model as a human being.

14.       Hug with permission.

15.       Practice patience.

16.       Support children – at their worst.

17.       Expect behavior that is typical of a younger child.

18.       Expect behavior that is beyond the child’s years.

19.       Live right – eat, rest, sleep.

20.       Make bedtime special.

21.       Resist overprotection.

22.       Don’t force talk and interaction.

23.       Understand that playing is a way to grieve and sort through fears and confusion.

24.       Attend to the physical symptoms.

25.       Reassure the child that he or she is not alone.

26.       Set limits on acceptable behavior, and enforce them.

27.       Remember triggers that will cause distress.

28.       Plan family time together.

29.       Be available for help if needed.

30.       Take care of yourself.

(This list was adapted from 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child  (The Dougy Center)  

Going Bananas

Obviously, a slightly green banana is not quite ripe, but you can still use it for baking or frying. Bright yellow bananas are fully ripe and ready to eat. As a banana begins to over-ripen, tiny brown flecks appear on the skin. The banana hasn't spoiled, though. In fact, at this point the fruit is ideal for infant feeding, salads, fruit cups etc. ideal for infant feeding, salads, fruit cups etc. You can also add an overripe banana to a blended milkshake or use it in other desserts. Since refrigerating bananas prevents proper ripening (and your bananas will soon turn black), it's better to buy your bananas a bit on the green side and let them ripen in a bowl at room temperature.

What to tell young children about terrorists...

As Fred Rogers said:  "there are some people in this world who are very angry and haven't learned how to live with people they don't agree with."

 They come in all colors and live in different places.  Sometimes they do terrible things,  awful things and hurt people, but there are many, many more people who know how to get along, and they are all over the world working hard to stop these people who do terrible things.

_____________________________________________________________________

How do we respond to children who express hatred or fear of Arabs or Muslims?

Children will express what they hear adults saying.  If children express fear or antagonism to people of Middle Eastern background or Muslims, ask them to explain what they are thinking and feeling.  At their developmental level, explain that just because some Arabs or Muslims did this and hate America, many, many more think hurting others is terrible and don't hate America.  There are lots of children, and moms and dads, in our country and around the world who are Muslim, and Arabs, who are very sad today and feel just like you.  A good site for information on how best to teach children tolerance is    www.tolerance.org

Click the address below to learn how to help children cope with grief-                                        

The Art of Grief

Picture-Making Helps Children Cope with  September 11  Loss....

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/primetime/DailyNews/pt_art_therapy_020307.html

5 A Day To Better Health

September 22-28 marks the 10th Annual National 5 A Day Week. The theme for this year's observance is "Eating 5 to 9 and Feeling Fine – Fruits and Vegetables Anytime!" Each year, during the month of September, the Produce for Better Health Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, and other 5 A Day partners conduct a nationwide effort to promote eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily for better health. Eating fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. The next time you're about to grab an unhealthy snack, reach for a fruit or vegetable instead.
For more information click website below...

www.5aday.com                                                 

Rescue Dogs

Pets are family members. (They just happen to be members of another species.)

In pet-owning families with small children, dogs and cats may actually be considered siblings by the younger kids. Even in families without pets, children find dogs and cats fascinating. Kids love to interact with animals.

You can couple children's love of dogs with a program that The Iams Company is sponsoring: The American Kennel Club (AKC)'s DOGNY public art program.

Every day, search and rescue dogs are dispatched to scenes of accidents, disasters and disappearances across the country, working tirelessly to rescue victims amidst hazardous conditions. These heroic canines are remarkable animals and are the reason why Iams is proud to be a major sponsor of the DOGNY program. The DOGNY tribute honors search and rescue dogs by designing and placing canine statues throughout New York City this fall.

These statues will be auctioned off by Sotheby's in December, with all net proceeds benefiting volunteer and professional canine search and rescue organizations throughout the country.

You can experience DOGNY for yourself by going to the Iams website devoted to the project. Visit the site with your kids, and explain how dogs and people work together to help in a variety of ways. Please visit the site to view many of the DOGNY sculptures, learn more about search and rescue dogs, and make an online donation to this great cause. You also may purchase commemorative t-shirts and coffee mugs online with all profits going to the AKC fund benefiting search and rescue dogs.

Click here to check out Iam's DOGNY site.

 Buying a Safe Safety Gate

Most parents end up buying a safety gate once their baby begins crawling and walking.  These gates are especially important if you have stairs or other child-dangerous areas in your house.

How can parents know the gate they buy is a safe one? The gold standard will be a JPMA certified sticker /seal on the gate or its packaging.  To become JPMA-certified, a product must be tested by an independent testing facility for compliance with the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials.  If a product passes the tests, JPMA allows the manufacturer to label it with the JPMA Certifies Seal.

Click Here For More Information

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

McDonald's Bobble Head Recall

Now,  I'm sure that you always cook healthy meals at home and never eat fast food  but in case you do, you might want to know about an important recall of Chicago Bears Bobble Head Figurines that were sold at McDonald's.  In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, McDonald's Corp. and Bobble Dreams USA are voluntarily recalling approximately 100,000 bobble head figurines because the paint on some of the figurines contains excess levels of lead.  Although they have not yet received any reports of injuries or incidents involving these figurines, it is possible that lead from the paint can pose a lead poisoning hazard if ingested over time by children.  The recalled bobble head figurines are designed in the likeness of NFL players Brian Urlacher and Anthony Thomas.  The 7-inch tall figurines have heads on springs that cause them to bobble from side to side. The figurines are dressed in Chicago Bears' uniforms.  The McDonald's logo and the player's name are printed across the front of the base. Labels on the bottom of the figurine read, "BOBBLE DREAMS USA" and "MADE IN CHINA," and "OFFICIAL NFL LICENSED PRODUCT." They were sold at participating McDonald's restaurants during a promotion from August 19, 2002 through September 12, 2002 for approximately $5.00.  If you own one of these figurines, keep it away from children and contact McDonald's at (800) 244-6227 to receive return and refund instructions.

Click here to read more information about the recall and see photos of recalled figurines.

- M. Ellman

Farmer's Markets

  Want to do something fun? Consider taking a day trip to a farmer's market. Many farmers sell good quality local fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. Why not purchase food that you've never eaten? You just might find a new healthy snack!

Parenting To Your Child's Temperament

Children are born with different temperaments. Some temperaments are much easier to parent than others. Many parents become frustrated when they try to force their child to act as if s/he has a different temperament from the one they do.

Try accepting your child's temperament instead of attempting to change it. Then, tailor your parenting to your child's temperament. The results will hopefully be more enjoyable for both you and your child.

Don't Yell At Your Kids

Interesting new parenting research finds that kids who are verbally abused suffer just as much harm developmentally as kids who are physically abused. Verbal abuse would include yelling at your children and name-calling.

While children must have discipline to grow into healthy adults certain forms of discipline are more desirable than others.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Continue to discipline your children but instead of yelling at them at the top of your lungs use a normal speaking voice, without shouting.

2) Make your voice serious and firm. Make eye contact when speaking to them.

Confident Parenting

Many parents feel plenty of frustration when it comes to the job they think they are doing as parents. Because parenting can be such demanding work it is easy to get down on yourself when things don't seem to be going well with your child. Because they are usually the primary caregiver mothers are especially prone to this.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Remember, there are no perfect parents, just as there are no perfect children. If you are doing the best you can with what you have for your children there is no reason to get down on yourself.

2) What your children need more than anything is your constant love and encouragement.

Identifying Family Values

The following list contains some common values that families choose to live by. If you haven't made an intentional effort to identify the values you want your family to have, use this list to help generate ideas.

Honest
Sociable
Religious/Spiritual
Optimistic
Hardworking
Educated
Helpful
Kind
Tolerant
Sensitive
Friendly

We live in a junk food society. While many of us grew up before the days of fast food/junk food our children have never known anything but easy access to unhealthy food.

Good nutrition is important for everyone, especially children.  Replace unhealthy foods with healthy substitutes. For example, replace soda with real fruit juice and unhealthy desserts with fresh fruit. It is imperative for your children to develop good eating habits while they are young

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Limit your child's daily TV watching. Find them physical activities to be involved in at least part of the day.

2) Keep the fridge stocked with plenty of fresh fruit and low-sugar drinks.

3) Look for low-fat/taste good recipes for snacks (they do exist). Keep plenty of these on hand throughout the year, along with the fresh fruits and low-sugar drinks.

Who Should Get a Flu Shot

The flu (influenza) is a serious disease that can be very dangerous for certain "high risk" individuals. At the very least, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms for several days. The flu can usually be prevented by getting a flu shot. Since the strain of influenza virus that causes the flu changes yearly, you should get a flu shot this year even if you received one last year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention especially "recommend" that the following "high risk" individuals get a flu shot: those aged 50 or greater, residents of long-term care facilities, those with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems, children aged 6 months to 18 years on long-term aspirin use, certain pregnant women, and anyone in close contact with people at risk. The flu shot is 'encouraged' for healthy children aged 6-23 months and their household contacts and caretakers, household contacts and caretakers of infants under 6 months of age, essential community service providers, certain travelers, people who live in dormitories or other crowded conditions, and anyone else who wants to reduce his or her chance of getting the flu. There are very few reasons not to get a flu shot: the best time is in October or November. We will discuss them in a later tip.

Risks of Getting a Flu Shot

Contrary to popular belief, the flu shot CANNOT cause the flu. However, it can cause certain mild side effects. The flu shot can also cause an allergic reaction, although the risk of a serious complication is very rare. The most common side effects of the flu shot include generalized fever or aches, as well as soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given. If these side effects occur, they usually begin shortly after administration of the flu shot and last only 24 to 48 hours. There has also been a question of a link between the flu shot and developing an illness called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This finding was noted in 1976, and since then the influenza vaccine has not been clearly linked to the development of this disease. The CDC estimates that if there is a risk of GBS from current flu vaccines, that risk is still only 1 or 2 per million persons vaccinated. Thus, the chance of developing GBS (if that link actually exists) is still less than the complication rate from the flu itself. Discuss the flu shot with your physician. But hurry up! The sooner you get the flu shot, the sooner you are protected!

Click Here For Flu Facts From The CDC.

These tips are for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical attention or professional diagnoses. If you have health concerns, please consult your health care provider before embarking on any treatment.


- M. Ellman

Holiday Poison Alert

It is easy to get so wrapped up in the festivities of the holiday season that we become heedless regarding child safety.
The Christmas holidays are the prime time of year for out of town family members to visit and for you to visit them. When other people come into your home or you into theirs, be aware of the danger of prescription drugs lying around, especially if you have small children. Because older people are more likely to be taking prescription drugs be especially alert if grandparents are visiting. They are likely out of the habit of thinking in terms of dangers to small children.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Ask guests not to leave medications in places where children can easily get to them.

2) Common places where medications are left include purses, bathroom sinks and kitchen counters and tables.

3) As you walk through the house do a sweep with your eyes, looking for medication that has been left out.

There are many things associated with the holidays that can be toxic if ingested by children.

The following fall in this category:

1) Holly, mistletoe berries, amaryllis

2) Alcoholic drinks leftover from parties – especially sweet ones like eggnog

3) Artificial snow spray

4) Fire salts (used in fireplaces for different colored flames)

Holiday Safety Alert – Electrical Outlets

Maybe no time of the year utilizes electrical outlets like the holiday season does. Christmas trees, outside light displays, inside light displays, among other electrical objects all call for numerous plugs in limited electrical outlets.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Don't overload electrical outlets.

2) Buy plug-in electrical strips designed for to handle multiple plugs.

3) Check extension cords for nicks and exposed wiring. This is especially true if these cords are run underneath rugs.

Holiday Fire Alert - Candles

The holiday season is a time of light. Many families like to use candles this time of year. Obviously, the problem with candles is they have an exposed flame. A candle flame is a fascinating object to a young child. Keep the following safety tips in mind:

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Make sure candles are well out of reach of children.

2) Always store matches used to light the candles out of reach and, better yet, do not allow children to know where you keep them.

3) Never leave a young child unattended in a room with a lit candle.

Holiday Safety Alert - Fireplace

For those that have a fireplace the holiday season is a sure bet it will be lit with a roaring fire. Fireplaces pose a potential safety hazard to young children.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Strongly consider the use of a fireplace shield if you have small children.

2) Know that even if you do, fireplace shields can become hot enough to burn little fingers if touched.

3) Hang stockings well above the fireplace opening.

4) Throwing wrapping paper in the fireplace can cause a flash fire. Use caution.

Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed marriage & Family Therapist

Managing Holiday Eating

The holidays present a tough challenge if you are trying to help your child manage his/her weight. One of the most helpful and informative sites on the Web belongs to the American Dietetic Association. You can find an excellent amount of information to help you keep eating habits as healthy as possible this holiday season.

Go to: eatright.org & click on the "Healthy Lifestyle" link. You will find a library of helpful information at your fingertips.

- Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Raisins, a Near Perfect Food   

Remember the dancing raisins? Well, they're back and bringing some good news.

Usually we think of raisins as an addition to cookies, granola, fruitcakes, etc., but they are so much more. Next time you reach for a candy bar, grab a pack of raisins instead. They are full of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure and is almost as good a source of iron as red meat. A half-cup a day is a good part of a high-fiber, low-fat diet.

The Yellow Dino Safety Program was for children three years and up.  Representatives talked about safety, and offered helmets as well as I.D. kits for parents to buy at cost.  Many parents of the younger children also participated in this very worthwhile safety promotion.

Encouraging Good Manners In Your Child

In today's often-disrespectful society, teaching children manners can be a challenge. But instilling the principles of kindness and etiquette in your child makes them a better all-around individual. In fact, some research shows that individuals with 'good manners' have greater self-confidence and self-esteem.

Good Parenting Action Points:

1) Model the behavior you expect.

2) Look at where your child is developmentally and base expectations accordingly.

3) Teach/prepare your child at home how you expect them to behave in various public circumstances (e.g., the restaurant, church, baseball field, etc.)

They have to learn that the expectations for courteous behavior vary from situation to situation.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Helping Your Preschooler Learn Numbers

Often mastery of counting at an early age is not an indicator that the actual math of counting is understood. It is easy for a child to just memorize a sequence of words (i.e., "one", "two", "three") and appear to be counting.

The National Education Association recommends the following everyday opportunities to help your children become familiar with numbers:

1) Teach children their age, their height, their weight, their address and phone number.

2) Include young children in cooking, teaching them how to follow a recipe step-by-step.

3) Children can touch, count, save, sort or spend money. Take them shopping and show them how much one must pay for items. Include how much they will save with discounts or coupons.

If you are looking for a creative, inexpensive way to help your preschooler  better learn to recognize numbers try this:

From your local newspaper, look at the sales ads that are advertising prices. Grocery store ads tend to be the best. Select a different number each week. Give your child a colored marker and have her search through all the ads for the chosen number & circle it with a marker.

 Dr. William Walker Jr., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Important SARS Information:

National Baked-Beans Month          

I bet you didn't know that July is National Baked-Beans Month.  Never mind trying to stop your children from singing that dreaded song this month -- sing along!

All kidding about beans aside, they truly are good for you, and are high in fiber, folate, and other nutrients. For more information about beans, including recipes and cooking information, visit the American Dry Bean Board's Web site using the link below.

     http://www.americanbean.org/

Click below to see Santa and his reindeer. 

http://web.icq.com/shockwave/0,,4845,00.swf

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