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Posts Tagged "High Desert"

15Jul2020

Easing the Stress of Shots

Almost every child has at least some fear of needles. While it may be tempting to put off shots so that your child stays happy, you could do that at the cost of your child’s health. It is important for long-term well-being that your child stays up-to-date on the vaccination schedule, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are a few ways to get through this process with the fewest tears.

Be Honest

It can be tempting to lie to your child before the appointment so that you do not have to be the one to tell him that he will be receiving shots. However, this method only leads to distrust over time. Be honest about what is going to happen and about what you can do to make the process better.

Bring a Distraction

Very young children respond very well to such distractions as stuffed animals, stickers and suckers during their shots. However, even an older child may like to page through a book or watch a short video to take his mind off the experience.

Give a Comforting Touch

If possible, keep your child in your lap for the shots. You can even be the one to help hold your child’s leg or arm in place while giving a warm hug.

Stay Calm

Above all, remember that your child will mirror the emotion that he feels coming from you. If he feels that you are nervous about the situation, he will be too. However, if he recognizes that you do not see this as a big deal, he will not feel as concerned.

While shots are never going to be something that your child looks forward to, you can take much of the fear out of the situation with these calming tactics. Your child ultimately wants to know that he will be safe no matter what happens and that you will be there for him. In addition, he may appreciate getting to do something special with you following his shots, such as going out for an ice cream cone or having a game night.

At Kids 1st Pediatrics, we put the health and happiness of our littlest patients first. You can rest assured that we will always keep vaccinations as pain-free and pleasant as possible. Contact our clinic today to schedule an appointment for your child.

Pediatrics
8Jul2020

What You Can Do About Childhood Obesity

Genetics, environmental factors, lifestyle, and daily choices play into the shape and size of every person on the planet. While your child has a great deal of information about how he will look already plugged into him when he is born, there are some things that you can do to prevent problems as he ages. One concern that should be on your radar is childhood obesity.

Create a Healthy Lifestyle

Remember that excess weight is usually put on when a child consumes more calories than he burns off in a typical day. Therefore, it is important that your child learns to eat nutrient-dense foods the majority of the time while also being active every day.

For healthy eating, focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains at every meal. When serving meat, offer mainly lean proteins. Your child can also get plenty of protein from lentils and beans. Try to keep refined sugars and flours to a minimum by limiting them to occasional snacks.

You can also help your child stay active by providing him with a bicycle and plenty of activities that he can do outdoors. Ideally, your child should be active for at least 60 minutes on most days of the week. An organized sport may help.

Be the Example Your Child Needs

If you do not model the lifestyle you want your child to follow, your child may say no to the habits that you are hoping to instill in him. Remember that your actions speak louder than words and that your child is closely watching the decisions that you make.

Get Your Child Healthy

If your child is currently overweight, focusing on these simple lifestyle changes may be enough to turn the tide. Never start a weight loss program for your child without checking with his pediatrician first. Restrictive diets are often missing key nutrients that children need for growth.

By teaching your child how he can maintain a healthy weight in childhood, you are setting him up with the knowledge and skills that he will need to continue making healthy choices much later in life. You can significantly impact the current and future health of your child by teaching him about healthy foods and exercise tips while modeling them yourself. For more help with this topic, schedule an appointment with a trusted, local pediatrician at Kids 1st Pediatrics.

Pediatrics
29Jun2020

Improving Posture at a Young Age

Have you ever told your child to sit up straight? Nearly every parent says that multiple times a week in an attempt to keep a child’s back tall and strong. However, good posture includes much more than simply how you or your child sits and stands. Posture affects many aspects of life, including self-confidence, concentration, and a multitude of physical concerns later in life. If you are concerned about your child’s posture and want to ensure that you are doing all that is possible to improve body mechanics, read on for a few tips perfect for your younger children.

  • First, remember that all bodies are designed to move, and regular movement and exercise will keep your child’s muscles strong and limber. Strong muscles, especially in the core and upper back, are vital for maintaining proper posture. Encourage your child to ride his bike, jump rope, and take part in organized activities during gym time at school.
  • Second, teach your child how to sit correctly. One of the most important aspects of this is ensuring that the chair your child spends the most time in is designed for good posture. Your child should be able to slide his bottom to the back of the chair while still maintaining a straight upper spine. You may also want to consider dynamic chairs, such as ball chairs, which can improve core strength. Some brands make special wobble chairs just for children.
  • Third, remember that it is unnatural for a child to spend hours at a desk or behind a computer. Plus, today’s computer game culture tends to result in bent necks and hunched-over postures. Instead, encourage your child to take plenty of breaks to look up from games, walk around the house and limber up tight joints.

If your child has bad posture, the problem may not be traced back solely to laziness. In fact, heavy backpacks, uncomfortable desk chairs, and even weight gain or genetic issues can be the main cause of bad posture for some children. In some cases, you may even need to talk to a pediatrician about your concerns. Some simple changes may be enough to produce stronger shoulders and backs. You may also need to consult with a physical therapist for special exercises designed just for your child. Contact Kids 1st Pediatrics today for more help with this issue.

Pediatrics
12Jun2020

Helping Children Understand Masks

The world may seem like a whole new place to your child. Wearing a face mask outside your home may either seem like an exciting adventure or a scary circumstance depending on how you approach this conversation with your child and depending on your child’s temperament.

  • First, consider the age of your child before having this conversation. If you have very young children, you should approach this using simplistic language, answering their questions, and remaining calm at all times. Be careful of offering too many details as this may only scare them. Simply tell them that masks can help keep them from getting sick. If you are speaking to older children, you can also focus on other steps they can take to keep their germs to themselves and to stay away from other germs when they are out.
  • Second, come up with a plan to get your child to wear the mask when going out in public. For younger children, it may be best to approach this as you would a game. Practice wearing the mask at home so that your child knows what it will feel like before leaving home. You could also have a favorite stuffed animal wear a mask. Children may also want to know what they look like while wearing the mask. You can encourage them to look at themselves in the mirror or take a selfie. Some children like the idea of looking like a favorite superhero who also wears a mask.
  • Third, find a way to make the mask-wearing experience pleasurable. You could consider offering a small reward if your child is particularly hesitant. However, you will have to make the exact requirements for earning the reward clear before leaving home. Another option would be decorating the mask using markers or stickers. No matter how your child reacts to the mask, be sure to be accepting of his emotions.

Face masks are currently recommended for most children over the age of 2 when going out in public. If you have concerns about your child wearing a mask or want to know more about how you can keep your child safe and healthy during this continuing pandemic, contact Kid’s 1st Pediatrics today. We can help you understand what our clinic is doing to address this crisis, schedule an appointment for your child, or give you advice over the telephone.

Pediatrics
23May2020

Teaching Children About Germs

When your children were infants, they loved to put everything in their mouths and had no qualms about rubbing their eyes every chance they got. Now that they are older, they may still have some of these same bad habits and may frequently come back from school with nasty colds or stomach viruses. By teaching your children about germs, they can understand better how bacteria and viruses are transferred from person to person and can become better stewards of their own health.

Your first inclination may be to sit down and have a talk with your child. However, most children become quickly bored by lengthy discussions. If they have nothing to look at during the discussion, the words you say are highly unlikely to make their way into your children’s memories. Instead, you need to teach them about germs by using something that sticks out to them and engages their senses.

Utilizing the Tools of Technology

One of the easiest options is to show your children a video about germs. There are plenty of free videos about this subject online today. Plus, nearly all children love watching videos. A video can help get across the message that germs are quite powerful even though they are unseen. To ensure that the message of the video has been made clear to your children, ask them to repeat back to you what they were taught.

While engaging one of the senses through watching a video can be powerful, an even more powerful teaching option is to engage at least two of the senses simultaneously through a demonstration. Find something that your children can not only watch but also test out with their hands. One example is putting glitter on your children’s hands and having them watch how the glitter gets on everything they touch.

As your children hear you talk to them about germs while watching you demonstrate germ transfer and getting to test it out for themselves, these new concepts will make their way more fully into their conscious thoughts. 
Although it will not happen overnight, your children will gradually start making smarter decisions about touching their faces, washing their hands frequently, and practicing good hygiene around others when they are ill. Until then, you do not have to feel bad about continuing to remind your children to cover their mouths when coughing or to keep their hands off their faces.

Pediatrics
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