Kid's First Pediatrics

18Jun2019

Are Allergies Keeping Your Children Indoors?

Seasonal allergies afflict numerous adults every year, but they are less expected when they hit your children. However, it is estimated that one in four children suffers from allergies today. Perhaps you are the parent of a child who spends most of each summer sneezing, rubbing his eyes or dealing with nasal congestion. While this is a great burden on you mentally, it can be a huge problem for your child who may struggle to enjoy typical daily activities, who may feel ostracized from his friends during allergy season and who may fight you over going outside to play for the day when you know it will cause his allergies to flare up again. These tips will arm both you and your child with the information necessary to get these irritating symptoms under control and to begin enjoying life once again.

Start Treatments Early

In an effort to limit the amount of medication that your child has to take, you may be waiting until his symptoms start before you begin giving him over-the-counter medications. However, research shows that starting medications up to three weeks before allergy season begins can provide better control of symptoms.

Allergy Testing Can Provide Answers

Allergy testing can help you know exactly what your child is allergic to and can help you limit his exposure to these allergens, whether they are certain types of pollen, mold, or pet dander.

Stay on Top of Pollen Counts

Once you know what trees, weeds, or grasses your child is allergic to, you can use pollen counts to tell you when your child should stay indoors. Many apps and Websites offer instantaneous pollen counts these days.

Watch out for Triggers

Your child’s allergies could be triggered by more than just pollen. Other common triggers include the following:

Mildew
Insect droppings
Weather changes
Chemicals and fumes
Tobacco or wood smoke
Strong scents

Kids Staff

Pediatrics

AllergiesApple ValleyHealthHigh DesertKid's 1st PediatricsPediatricsSummerVictorville

11Jun2019

Summer Routines for Children

Now that summer is in full swing, you may be wondering how you are going to deal with having your children home with you for the next two to three months. What seemed like a great way to bond and to enjoy family fun may now seem like an overwhelming task of keeping your children happy and busy when it seems as if they have nothing to do. The benefit of the school months is that children have routines that they follow at least five days each week. They go to bed and wake up at the same time. Meals are normally at the same time, and extracurriculars usually happen on a schedule.

Summer Activities and Routines

During the summer, most of these activities are on a break. While children can certainly benefit from a little downtime that gives them a chance to use their imaginations and engage in social play, they may not benefit from the lack of routine in their lives. Therefore, it is up to you to build the right amount routine to give your children the security and self-control they need.

Create new sleep times. While your bedtimes and wake-up times may be different than they were during the school year, they should still be regular.
Create time for your children to be by themselves. Playtime is important, but children still need time to be quiet and to think. This gives them time to let their imaginations run free.
Create new weekly activities. Perhaps you can go to the library or the park on a certain day each week. The good news for you is that you may now be able to add in more regular weekly chores for your children to help you out around the house.
Create time for learning. Depending on your child, you may be able to keep up their learning with bookwork from a simple textbook. However, learning can happen outdoors, in the kitchen, in the garage, or nearly anywhere you go.

The benefits of routines for children cannot be overstated. Young children, in particular, feel much safer and more secure with a routine. Children do not have to fear the unknown when they know exactly what to expect. Routines also aid in creating a calmer household, giving children self-confidence, building healthy habits, bringing siblings and parents together, helping children look forward to favorite activities, and creating realistic expectations for everyone.