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Posts Tagged "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.

Kids Staff
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.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
6May2020

Keeping Your Children Safe from Medications in Your Home

Almost every family has some type of medication at home, and most have multiple medications and supplements in their cupboards. Whether you take a prescription medication, keep acetaminophen on hand, or use supplements daily for good health, the medicines in your house pose distinct dangers to the littlest members of your family. No matter what age your children are, use these tips to protect them from possible overdoses.

Keep Medications out of Sight

If your child does not even know where medications are stored in the home, he will be less tempted to go exploring for them. Whenever you take out a medication bottle for your own use, be sure to put it back in the correct place immediately. Do not leave your children’s medications out where they can see them either.

Store Medications on High Shelves

As you are looking for a spot for stowing medications away safely, search for a spot that is too high for your children to reach. In addition, stay away from shelves next to spots that are easily climbable, such as near countertops or tables.

Only Use Bottles with Child-Proof Lids

Many medications come with child-proof lids. You can also ask for a child-proof bottle at your local pharmacy counter if you need to transfer some medications into safer bottles.

Make Sure to Hear the Lid Click Shut

Of course, child-proof lids are only handy if they are correctly deployed. Be sure that you hear the lid click shut after using it, and try to unscrew the lid yourself to ensure that it is completely closed.

Teach Children About Medication Safety

Instead of being afraid to teach your children about medications and how dangerous they can be, start early by telling your children how medications and supplements are different from candy. Additionally, explain that they should never eat anything they find on the ground, even if it looks like candy.

Keep the Number to Poison Control on Speed Dial

While these tips should decrease any potential for accidental medication ingestion in your home, you may still find yourself faced with the unthinkable someday. Keep the number for the Poison Control Center, which is (800) 222-1222, on your phone’s speed dial. These experts can give you quick advice for how to help your child and whether you need to head to the emergency room.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
27Apr2020

How Routines Soothe the Brain

If you have been a parent for very many years, you certainly know how well your child does with routines. Knowing what to expect helps him remain calm and in control of his emotions. It lets him know what to expect each day and can even decrease temper tantrums and meltdowns. However, did you know that routines and structure can actually soothe your child’s brain?

How Adults Deal with Decisions Differently than Children

The ability that you have as an adult to remain calm in the face of difficulties and to resist certain impulses while retaining a sense of control over your emotions comes from the working of what is known as your external frontal executive network. Your child does not have this inner working yet and will not fully gain control over his impulses until later in his teenage years. Your ability to create a routine can actually soothe your child’s brain and help him make the right decisions when it comes to academics, bedtime, food choices, and much more.

Routines can also help your child stay away from anxiety. Set schedules create important habits, helping children get through certain parts of their days more quickly while ensuring that they complete their tasks well. They may even be able to sleep better and find more enjoyment in the little things of life.

Structure Reduces Anxiety

All routines add structure to the day. They take away the need to make thousands of little decisions and help your child decrease stress by adding predictability to any given situation. When children do not have to expend valuable energy and emotions on smaller decisions, they will feel more in control of themselves when making larger decisions, such as whether they should go over to a friend’s house.

Even if you know very little about executive function, you have surely noted how much better you are able to resist your impulses when compared to your elementary-aged child. By putting routines and daily structures into place, you are providing the firm foundation your child needs to remain in control of his own actions. In turn, you are providing a soothing environment in which your child can grow and thrive. Once your child reaches adulthood, he will be able to put some of these same routines to work for him and will discover that they help to decrease his stress and anxiety at work and in social situations.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
17Apr2020

Benefits of Exercise for Children

If your family is similar to many others, your children may be going stir-crazy by now. Although the first few days off school may have filled them with joy, days, and weeks away from their friends during the coronavirus pandemic and a limit on the number of activities they can do may leave them feeling more like couch potatoes than ever. Now is the time to inspire your children to get up and find activities that they love. Not only is exercise good for physical health, but also it can significantly improve your children’s mental health during this stressful time.

Improve Strength and Physical Fitness

All kids need stronger bones and muscles. This will help them maintain lean, healthy bodies and will put them on the path to good habits early in life. They will also increase in endurance and be able to run farther and play longer.

Improve Heart and Lung Health

Children who exercise can lower their blood pressure just as adults do. They will also improve their lung capacity.

Improve Sleep

Children who exercise often feel more relaxed. They may be able to get to sleep faster, sleep longer, and have better sleep quality.

Improve Mood

The hormones released during exercise help decrease stress hormones while improving the feel-good hormones that lead to an improved mood.

Boost Confidence

Kids who are more physically fit feel good about themselves because of what they can do. They may have better self-image and be proud of their flexibility, strength, and endurance. This confidence may even translate into improved body image, better test scores, and improved social habits.

While these are the top benefits of exercise for children, you may find that your child can improve in many other areas as well. Now more than ever, it is vital that your children are getting the recommended amount of exercise every day. Do not let fear of coronavirus stop you from letting your children play on their own in the backyard, from taking a family walk or from biking on your quiet street. While you should not be letting your children play with all the other children on your street, you can use this time to bond as a family with special activities. Not only will you be helping your children build healthy habits for their bodies, but also you will be improving their emotional health.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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