Today's Parent | Parenting Resources… Articles, Advice, Help & Tips

While July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, proper cell phone etiquette protocols should be top-of-mind year-round. This according to CableOrganizer.com, an industry-leading eTailer of cell phone, electrical, telecom/datacom, home theater, cable and wire management products, who today released its “10 Commandments of Cell Phone Use” in conjunction with a Cell Phone Courtesy Kit (www.CableOrganizer.com/CellPhoneGear), with the concurrent launch of its free Mobile Phone Sweepstakes.

With this in mind, we offer these 10 Commandments of Cell Phone Use:

1. Respect those you’re with. At some point or another, we’ve all been out with someone who has checked out of the one-on-one live conversation for a number of minutes to casually shoot the breeze with someone else via cell phone. If you make social plans with someone, they are the first priority and deserve your undivided time and attention.

2. Let voicemail handle non-urgent calls when appropriate. Voicemail exists for a reason…it allows you to take note of non-emergency incoming calls without disrupting the environment you are currently in.  If you’re at a teacher/parent conference, a meal with your family, a social function immersed in conversations, and other such situations, rest assured your voicemail will be there when a more suitable time to return the call presents itself.

3. Set a good example to the younger generation. It’s no surprise that kids learn by example, so keep that in mind when you’re modeling cell phone behavior in front of the younger set—whether your kids or others. You teach them to say “please” and “thank you,” among other social graces, so why stop there? Mind your cell phone Ps and Qs in front of children and teens alike, and you’ll give them a better shot at becoming model, tech-savvy citizens themselves.

4. Wait to text, and save a life (yours). When you drive and text at the same time, whether reading or composing, you’re not only taking your hands off the wheel, but your eyes off the road as well. No text message is worth the risk of injuring, or killing, yourself or others. Wait until you are safely parked to send and return text messages.

5. Stash your cell when dining out. When people spend money on a dinner out, the last thing they want is to become a captive audience to a third party cell phone conversation. If you’re eating in public, especially in the company of others, stash the cell phone (and turn off the ringer) until the meal is over—everyone, including you, will enjoy themselves much more.

6. Remember when ‘private time’ is in order. It’s easy to identify telltale restroom sounds like echoes, running water and flushing in the background, so if you’re taking a time out to answer nature’s call, don’t try to fool anyone – end calls before you walk into the restroom, and don’t answer or dial again until you’ve washed and exited.

7. Keep arguments under wraps. Not every cell phone conversation may be a happy one, but that doesn’t mean you have license to a public meltdown. It’s easy to get wrapped up in an argument, but remember that others can’t see or hear the hothead on the other end of the line… all they are aware of is a one-sided screaming match a few feet away. Don’t let it be you.

8. Mind your manners. Stories and language that might be entertaining to your closest associates may very well come off as inappropriate or just plain TMI to innocent bystanders, so it’s smart to live by the following rule: if you wouldn’t walk through a busy public place with a particular word or comment printed on your t-shirt, don’t use it in cell phone conversations when within earshot of strangers. Read More

More than 34 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma sometime during their life, of which roughly one-third are under the age of 18. Of the many individuals who live with asthma, few really have it under control, leading to further health complications and death. Important basics of asthma care can empower people with the information needed to take full control of their own, or a loved one’s asthmatic condition.

When questioned about their asthma, 71% of patients say it is well or completely controlled. When these same patients were analyzed using objective measures of control, only 29% were well controlled, so 71% were, in fact, poorly controlled. When not in control, patients’ quality of life is greatly reduced, and they are faced with potential emergency room visits, poor sleep, missing school or work, medication overuse, and depression

The lack of knowledge and understanding of asthma is coupled with the fact that there are simply not enough allergists and other asthma specialists to care for all those who deal with the condition. Raising awareness of the standard of care needed for asthma sufferers is needed, so they will come to expect nothing less – and hopefully combat the nearly 4,000 deaths that asthma causes each year.

Asthma sufferers and their caregivers can gain better control over their condition by paying attention to the 7 P’s:

Problem – understand how asthma works and know the basics of the condition

Prevention – avoid those things in your environment that trigger asthma

Pulmonary function tests – Know how well your lungs are functioning and use this information to guide your treatment plan

Pharmaceuticals – know that medication is an essential part of keeping your asthma under control

Plan – set your asthma action plan, a roadmap that tells you when and what to do when things go wrong

Patient-Physician – having open communications with your physician is a crucial part of treating asthma

Positive mindset – remaining optimistic, taking ownership of your responsibilities to treat asthma, and becoming dedicated to keeping control over the position will increase quality of life amongst asthma sufferers

I have believed for years that people with asthma and any other chronic condition are best served by being empowered and developing a great relationship with a good, empathetic, and caring physician.

Dr. Stephen J. Apaliski has been a practicing physician for over 30 years. He first trained as a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and later as an allergist at Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 1990, he served as a flight surgeon in the first Gulf War.

Dr. Apaliski is Board Certified in Pediatrics, as well as Allergy and Immunology. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy and Immunology and a Board Member of the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America—Texas chapter. He is also certified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals as a Certified Physician Investigator. In addition to seeing patients in his medical practice at the Allergy & Asthma Centers of the Metroplex and conducting Clinical Trials as the Medical Director of Discovery Trials-Arlington, Dr. Apaliski is on the medical staff at THR Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, Texas. Dr. Apaliski is also a speaker for various pharmaceutical companies, helping to educate physicians and other health care providers about the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and allergic diseases. For more information, visit http://www.beatingasthma.com

My husband and I don’t always see things eye to eye. We have had many disagreements and arguments, mostly because I have what I like to call “Momma Bear Syndrome.” Momma Bear Syndrome is an instinctive, unthinking act to defend the cubs at all costs. If Poppa Bear disciplines more harshly than Momma Bear deems appropriate the claws come out, and Momma Bear is on the attack. Watch Out! This can cause confusion and disruption in the den. Parents must quietly go behind doors if this happens and talk about what is wrong or right. Try to find middle ground. Sticking together is very important. Sometimes it’s hard because men and women see things so differently. Once a decision is made, go out and talk to the kids together. If a punishment is needed now is the time to explain it to the child. Let them see you are now on the same page. You must stick together, or your children and the outside world will—wear you down.

Our decision to homeschool our children was not made overnight, nor was it blissfully blessed by both of us at first. The idea was first introduced to us when my husband met a colleague’s son, named Josh. The boy seemed so bright and out-going, able to speak and talk to adults better than any other child my husband knew. Every day he would come home from work bragging about Josh and the fact that his mother homeschooled him. I was really intrigued, but in my own small thinking brain the thought that I could homeschool my children never occurred to me.

When it was time to sign our oldest child up for kindergarten I was having a very difficult time. He was still so little and young; I just couldn’t imagine sending him off into a world that didn’t include me or his family. I prayed and prayed about it without my husband knowing how I was feeling. The year I was supposed to sign Keith up for kindergarten happened to be 1999. On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, the unthinkable happened in a high school named Columbine. Two high school seniors went on a murderous rampage, killing thirteen students. It sickened every parent in America and frightened every student who heard of the horrific event. My heart had been telling me for quite some time I should homeschool Keith, but being inundated with the culture and society we live in I just didn’t feel I was qualified. I felt that he needed to go to school. Even after the tragedy, I still thought it best that he attend school. After all, that’s what everyone else was doing.

But my spirit would not let the issue rest. I lay in bed every night praying for an answer. Finally, I expressed my feelings to my husband, “You are always coming home and talking about how well rounded and what a great kid Josh is. I thought maybe I should homeschool Keith.” His answer echoed my own feelings of self-doubt and he said, “But you’re not a teacher. Josh’s mom is a licensed teacher.” Sad and dejected I decided to sign Keith up for kindergarten.

I made arrangements to talk to some kindergarten teachers and visit some classrooms. First I would be going to the public school, and then to the private Catholic school I had attended as a child. Since my nephew, Ethan, was in first grade and attended the public school I would be visiting, I decided it would be fun if I could take him to school that morning. We started off around eight. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brilliantly, and I couldn’t help noticing he would really rather be playing outside. He took me in through the front doors of the school into what I perceived as total pandemonium. Having attended a Catholic school all my life, I had never witnessed children running from here to there in the hallways. I put it aside because Ethan was excited about me purchasing a mechanical pencil for him to use that day. After visiting with a kindergarten teacher, I was more confused than ever. I told her I had been considering homeschooling and asked her opinion, expecting her to convince me sending my children to school was the best thing for them. She answered me honestly saying, “If you can homeschool, your children will be better off. My sister homeschools her children. She offers them way more than any teacher could.” This was a lot to consider.

Next it was off to my old alma mater. Here the children were treated totally the opposite of what I had witnessed at the public school. Discipline ruled as the kids walked out of church in quiet lines like little soldiers. Neither school was what I wanted for my children.

Perplexed and confused I went to a store before going home. As I was making my purchase the woman behind the counter asked me in a shocked voice, “Have you heard about the bomb threat at Brookville Elementary School?” All I could see was my precious, little blond headed, blue-eyed nephew whom I had just dropped off less than an hour ago. My heart aching and my stomach churning, I longed to go back into the school and pick him up and take him back to his safe home, but this was not in my authority. I had no right to do that. Only his parents could. I did, however, have a say about my own children. Read More

When a child is afraid, all a parent wants to do is take that fear away, but as most parents know it’s not always so easy. Fear isn’t rational in anyone, no less a child, and certainly not when it is a fear of the unknown, like death or the dark. Reasoning with a child who is facing a fear of the dark that there is “nothing to be afraid of” can only go so far. While it is certainly worthwhile to explain to a child that there is nothing in the room to fear, rarely does this sort of logic and rationality completely eradicate an experience that, by its very nature, is founded on the ever-irrational and illogical realm of emotions.

1. Compassion always.

The limits of rational comforting notwithstanding, there is still something to be gained by talking openly with your child about his feelings. Simply asking your child to discuss his fears with you can go a long way towards assuaging those fears. Your child will usually welcome the opportunity to discuss her perception of reality with you—his protector—who in turn provides acceptance and understanding. In broaching the subject of your child’s fear, take extreme care to remain sensitive to the child’s experience of the dark and to avoid ridiculing her or impassively dismissing his feelings. Belittling a child for being afraid or showing frustration with repeated outbursts of fear will only exacerbate the negative associations the child already has with the experience.

2. Try to see it from your child’s perspective…

Study the room from your child’s perspective to identify any objects that may appear threatening in the dark and then make the necessary adjustments accordingly. Installing a nightlight in the room or in a visible part of the hallway outside the door may help comfort your child at night, as can giving your child a sense of control over his environment by placing a lamp on a bedside table that he may turn on or off on his own. And it doesn’t hurt to ask your child if there are any measures he can think of for handling the fear. A solution could be as simple as permission to bring a comforting toy or other belonging to bed with him (so long as it isn’t physically dangerous to do so, of course.)

3. …but do not play along with your child’s fears.

It is crucial that in discussing your child’s fears, you avoid giving him the impression that you share those fears. Checking under the bed or looking in the closet for monsters, for example, may suggest that you genuinely think there is a possibility that something terrifying may be lurking nearby. The child already believes you’re invincible; otherwise the monsters would also be under your bed or in your closet. The child needs to believe you understand his fears, not to see you buy into the reality of the fears. If he is convinced that there is something under the bed or in the closet, and your assurance that there can’t be anything there is to no avail, you might allow him to look, with you present, in order to convince himself of this truth. Invite him, in other words, to share your invincibility. But don’t pretend that the possibility of such a thing as monsters under the bed might even exist or you set yourself up for the possibility of playacting nightly an unhelpful bedtime ritual.

4. Take your child on a security tour of the house.

What may also help allay your child’s fears is becoming acquainted with the security systems installed in your home to protect against real dangers, rather than imagined ones. You might show your child the deadbolt locks on the doors to the outside (though don’t actually lock them at night as it could be a fire hazard) or any alarm systems you may have installed. Read More

You probably didn’t think twice about childproofing your drawers and cabinets. You just did it.  But what about your television, furniture and stairs?

If you follow the news, you may have heard that in the last few months, four children have been killed by falling TVs in the Chicago area alone.

The national statistics are even more chilling. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, tipping TVs and furniture take the life of a child every two weeks.  Another 15,000 are injured every year.

In the first nationally representative study of stair injuries in young kids, it was unveiled that nearly 932,000 children younger than 5 were hurt in stair accidents in the U.S. in the decade from 1999 through 2008. On average, that’s more than 93,000 kids a year, or about 46.5 injuries for every 10,000 children under age 5, according to the study published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Sadly, many parents reported they didn’t even realize there was a hazard.  The danger is all too real.  But so are the solutions.

Safety experts recommend these preventative steps:

• If you can wall mount your flat screen, do so. If you’re using a TV stand, choose one that is stable, low to the ground, and substantially larger than the TV’s base. Place TVs as far back toward the wall as possible.

• When filling a bookshelf or dresser, place the heaviest items on the lower shelves or drawers. Bottom-heavy units are more stable.

• Don’t place toys or other tempting items up high where kids might be tempted to climb to reach them.

• All houses with stairs should have sturdy, wall-mounted gates at the top and at least pressure-mounted gates at the bottom of the flights.

Accidents can happen in a flash, even under a parent’s watchful eye.  Childproofing is an ongoing process, and One Step Ahead has done the research and offers what we think is the most effective grouping of home childproofing solutions and safety gates.

Below are a variety of TV strap, furniture bracket and safety gate examples, specifically designed to prevent such accidents.  They’re simple, inexpensive, and fairly easy to install, and we’d like to urge all parents to put safeguards like these into place: Read More

We have entered into the time of year when the kids are out of school, vacation plans unfold, the temperature is hotter and we have a chance to slow down.  Many call this season, the lazy days of summer. This is an instance when we have the opportunity to enjoy a slice of the American dream living in South Florida.

During the school year, there is so much hustle and bustle; driving the kids to school, practices, and events.  We have had so much to do.  In the summer, the pace of life slows down. Some kids are in summer camps, while others get to relax at home.  We have an opportunity to focus on spending time with our loved ones and enjoy actually living.

We now have a break to splash around in the pool, play board games, visit the library, and catch up with our neighbors.  It is a great occasion to invite friends over for a barbecue or enjoy a walk around the neighborhood in the early morning or late evening.  We have to make sure to use sun block on our skin to avoid skin damage and stay hydrated by drinking more fluids than usual.

Now is the moment to have your air conditioner serviced to make sure you are not caught without air during the heat waves. To save on energy costs raise your thermostat to 78*, keep your shades closed when the air conditioner is on.  Change air filters and run appliances late in the evening. Unplug equipment when not in use and turn off unused lights. Also use cold water to wash dishes and clothes.

The lazy days of summer allow us to slow down, rethink our priorities and set new goals.  It gives us an opportunity to do something new; either physical or mental.   A moment in time to study a new language, take dance lessons, kick boxing or create a better reality.  It’s summertime and the living is easy, so push forward and make your dreams come true!

– Gloria De Jesus

Summer, that magical season of warm days, no school, and family vacations, is here. For a few months, reading, writing, and ’rithmetic can take a backseat. But there’s a fourth “R” that’s every bit as important as the traditional three: relationships. And the good news is summer is a wonderful time to help your kids hone in on this essential skill.

As we move forward into the future, we can’t honestly predict what the job market will look like for our kids—other than that it will be different from what we know now. One thing’s for sure: In times of uncertainty, problem solving, innovation, and collaboration are going to be critical to success. And the abilities to forge relationships and communicate effectively are at the heart of all of those skill sets.

Over the next few months, your family won’t be so overwhelmed with school and related activities. Take advantage of the extra time—and attention spans!—to help your kids develop their ability to communicate comfortably and effectively with others.

Read on for six great “learning lab” opportunities to seize on your summer vacation:

Order at a restaurant. When you’re on a family vacation, it’s likely that you’ll eat at several restaurants, ranging from quick pit stops on the road to a special “fancy” dinner at a restaurant your destination is known for. While you might be tempted to facilitate the whole process, from making reservations (if necessary) to ordering for everyone, use restaurants as an opportunity to help your kids interact with others while managing and communicating several specific details.

Under your supervision, of course, have your kids call and make reservations, speak with the hostess, and order their own meals—complete with requests to get their salad dressing on the side. You can also prompt your child to thank the waitress when his meal is delivered and encourage him to engage with her in positive ways when she checks in throughout the meal. This is a good chance for kids to see firsthand which words and tones get results, as well as how important it is to be clear and accurate. You can also point out that you get better treatment—more attentive service and maybe even free dessert—when you are polite and respectful as opposed to demanding or rude.

Check in at the hotel. After a long day of travel, it’s tempting to ask your kids to stand quietly—or even stay in the car with your spouse—while you check in to your hotel. But hotel stays are full of great opportunities for connecting, from check-in to check-out. For example, your child could take the lead at check-in by saying, “Hi! I’m here to check in for the Smith family. We had a reservation from tonight to next Saturday, and we need a rollaway bed. And if you have one available, could we stay in an oceanfront room?”

You can also coach your kids to call down to the front desk with specific requests—for example, extra towels. And at the end of the stay they can even compliment the manager on what a great trip it was or give a specific employee, like the concierge, a great recommendation. Your kids will be really proud of their ability to successfully navigate an “adult” situation. Even better, when you accustom them to these tasks early on, they’ll be much less timid and uncertain as they venture out on their own in the years to come.

Make friends at the pool. Travelling is the perfect opportunity for meeting interesting people and making new friends. If you are staying at a resort or hotel, it’s likely there will be plenty of other children around for the entirety of your stay. Encourage your kids to take a break from texting their friends back home so that they can make a new buddy (or two) to have as playmates for the week. You can coach your child on how to introduce herself and guide her through making plans to meet tomorrow for another game of Frisbee on the beach. And at the end of the week, you can suggest that your child gather her new friend’s contact information so that they can become pen (or e-mail) pals.

You’ll be doing your kids a big favor if you help them to become confident in introducing themselves to and getting to know new people. This is a skill that will help them not only on vacations, but at school, in sports leagues, and, later in life, in the workplace. Just think of how many opportunities might open up for your child throughout his life through a simple, “Hi. My name is Michael. I’d like to get to know you better!” Read More

Think healthy eating has to be expensive? Think again. Comparing cost per nutrients when searching for nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains and milk can not only save you money, but can affect your health in the long run.

“We’re all watching our budgets these days,” said Michelle Dudash, registered dietitian, mom and author of the upcoming book titled, “Clean Eating for Busy Families.” But, says Dudash, “there are important health and nutrition trade-offs that we need to consider. The truth is, Americans need a crash course in ‘nutrition economics.’”

Whether it’s picking the most nutrient-rich foods, or finding ways to keep the costs down within important food groups like fruits, vegetables and milk, she also emphasizes that nutrition economics doesn’t mean making everything from scratch – it means doing a little advance work to understand exactly what you’re buying.

“Expensive” depends on how you measure cost, so to help navigate the supermarket, Dudash has outlined tips to make the most of your grocery cart. With these tips as a guide, learn the art of nutrition economics and save more while getting nutrients you need, all within budget.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Nutrition Economics

• DO: Learn to look at costs per nutrient. Healthy foods can sometimes appear to be higher in cost but, when you look at the nutrients these foods provide, they often are a good value. Check your labels and ask yourself: “Is the food I’m selecting packed with nutrients to keep my family fueled?” Be sure to look at the percent daily value for nutrients you need like calcium, potassium and vitamin D.

• DON’T: Spend on substitutes. Expensive alternatives are usually just that – expensive, and they often don’t deliver the value of the real thing. For example, look for the best value in the dairy aisle – milk. Unlike some of the other alternatives, you always know what you’re getting when you grab a glass of milk; nine essential nutrients for just a quarter a glass.

• DO: Think about your drink. Drinks are often an overlooked part of your food budget, and can not only break the bank; they can also lack the nutrition you need, especially at breakfast. Take a look at your beverage closely and choose the options that offer the most nutrients for a healthy start.

• DO: Maximize the seasons. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables only when in season and learn to maximize your freezer. By utilizing frozen produce in the off season, you still get the same nutrients at a much lower cost.

• DON’T: Be a Spontaneous Meal Planner. Of course there’s room for fun when it comes to meals, but the more you plan, the more you’ll maximize your budget. We can all admit to giving in to the last-minute meal, but planning ahead can help you avoid costly quick stops, and too many fresh veggies tossed in the trash.

To learn more about the value of a glass of milk, and for useful recipes your family will love, visit www.TheBreakfastProject.com.

Is your child using the unlimited power of his imagination?  Take the short quiz below to find out.

1. Does your child play with toys that do not require batteries or electricity?

2. Does your child have at least four hours a day of uninterrupted time to play and pretend with the above mentioned toys?

3. Does your child have a place inside and if possible outside that is designated for play things?

4. Do you read interesting stories together that promote a child’s imagination?

5. Has your child ever pretended to be something like a super hero, airplane pilot, a mommy, a daddy, etc.?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, chances are your child has a vivid imagination and if you answered no to any, you may want to start doing things a little differently.  Did you know that Albert Einstein, one of the greatest scientists to ever live, said, “Imagination is more important that knowledge.  For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand.  While imagination embraces the entire world.”

Today people tend to think that children need something planned for them every minute of the day.  Because of this, children can potentially go through life never tapping into their greatest resource – their imagination.  Between computer games, watching television, dancing lessons, softball practice, and volleyball camp a young girl of age eight might not get the time she needs during the summer to tap into her fabulous imagination just waiting to be discovered.  Many parents today, with the best interest of their children in mind, over-schedule and over-stimulate their kids.  Running to and fro, back and forth, giving children little time to explore their creative power.

To truly discover the potential of the imagination, children need to have down time, aka time not noticeably supervised by an adult.  While an adult should always be present and watching over children at play, it is necessary for kids to feel free to express themselves in a morally acceptable way.  If your children are not ones to play with toys that require no batteries or electricity, you may have to get them started and teach them to use their imagination.  Once you do, you will be pleasantly surprised at the inconceivable ideas they come up with.  Soon they will be telling you tales of how they slayed a dragon and saved a whole town from certain death.  If you have an only child it is important for you to play with them, but just as important to have children their age to play with also.

Kay Redfield Jamison, professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, goes so far as to say, “Play is not a luxury; it is a necessity.”  When children are playing they are in charge of their world and the problems that may exist there.  They can solve what might be an imaginative adult problem in an environment they control by using a solution that they themselves have come up with.  This in turn, will help them to develop a healthy dose of confidence and common sense.

Can you imagine what our world would be like today if the Wright Brothers didn’t have the time and resources to use their imagination?  A flying machine is not something the logical mind could necessarily conceive.  If your children are taught and allowed the time to use their imaginations, they can develop the potential to change the future.  John Sculley, a business executive says, “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.”  Anyone who ever accomplishes anything must first spend a certain amount of time daydreaming, desiring, and imagining. Read More

If you have been to your child’s school or daycare during the cough and cold or allergy season, you have undoubtedly heard a contagious chorus of coughs and sniffles.  On average, a young child will have 6-10 colds per year and the virus swap is at its peak during the winter season.  When your child is sick, many parents struggle with knowing when to keep them home, or when to send them back into The Wild.

Below please find tips on when it’s safe for children to go to school and when it’s best for them to stay home and recover.

Red Light

Keep your child home, avoid contact with others and consider seeing your pediatrician if symptoms include:

• Fever of 101 degrees or higher

• Wheezing or shortness of breath during normal activity

• Cough that disrupts regular activities

• Constant yellow or green drainage from the nose

• Ill appearance or excessive fatigue

Yellow Light

Trust your judgment.  Your child may continue regular activities unless he or she needs additional rest or is showing early signs of red light symptoms. These symptoms may include:

• Improving fever.  Your child can return to a regular routine once he or she has been fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications

• Sporadic cough that minimally interferes with activities

• Congestion may be present, but minimal green or yellow discharge from the nose

Green Light

While not 100%, your child is okay to return to school. Symptoms may include:

• Mild, infrequent cough that does not negatively impact daily activities

• Clear runny nose

• Active, playful, and rested

Remember, the most important way to keep children healthy and in school is by reducing the transmission of viral infections.  Proper hygiene including the use of disposable tissues and coughing into the elbow should be encouraged.  Frequent hand washing cannot be overemphasized.  Avoid touching the mouth, nose and eyes, as they are the gateway for unwanted viruses.

And finally, when in doubt don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician – they are there to help.

Dr. Zarbock, Zarbee’s, the only all-natural cough medicine that is safe and effective for children.