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

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children view around 40,000 television commercials per year. Most are for high-calorie snacks and sugared cereals. Research has shown that these ads lead children to ask for more junk food, which may be contributing to the fact that today around a third of the nation’s children are considered overweight or obese (a rate that has more than tripled in the last three decades). Further, it is reported that teens ages 14-18 are consuming an average of 34 teaspoons of sugar per day.

Parents may be surprised by just how much influence there is for kids to eat unhealthily. This is why it is so important for parents, educators and other adults to make an ongoing effort to get kids to make healthier eating decisions.

The good news is that there are things that people can do in order to help teach children to make healthier choices. Here are five ways to help do just that:

1. Get them involved. Children who have fun and are involved are more likely to remember the information. The more kids are involved, the more they will get out of the experience. To learn about healthy food and nutrition, they can help garden, plan and prepare meals, etc. A fun way to do this is to give the child $5 to spend in the produce department, or at the farmers market, on fruits or vegetables of their choice – without any complaint or influence from the parents, which is the key. Let the child explore and learn. No matter what they pick out, the parent can find a healthy recipe so they can prepare it together.

2. Teach them. Even younger children can learn about what is healthy and not, label reading, and making healthy choices. Take the time to teach children why making healthy food choices is a better route, teach them how to read labels, etc.

3. Snack healthy. Children usually need a couple of snacks to keep them going throughout the day. The CDC recommends that kids keep snacks to under 100 calories and it is ideal to have those snacks be low-fat and low-sugar. Help kids learn to identify healthier snack options when they see them, such as fruits and vegetables, yogurt, granola bars, and baked chips.

4. Be a role model. One of the most important things that parents can do in order to get their kids to eat healthier is to model healthy eating habits. When parents eat healthy, they are demonstrating to their children the ideal way to eat. Consistently modeling this, over time, will influence children, even if it is years later.

5. Influence change. Work with school administrators and others to influence healthy changes. For example, work with your school to get healthier snacks and lunch options on campus, and work with local legislators to place limits on junk food commercials on television.

The more that parents make an effort to focus on healthier food options for their kids, the likelier the kids are to become willing participants. When we look at what is happening with health issues in this country, there is just no getting around this problem. We have to create a healthier eating environment for our children, whether at home, at school, or at a recreation center.

Jolly Backer, the chief executive officer of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). Fresh Healthy Vending is a company that aims to help bring healthier food options to children across the country. Their healthy vending machines have been placed in over 800 locations around the nation and in Canada, including in schools, hospitals, and corporate centers. Each vending machine is dual-climate controlled and filled with all-healthy food options, including healthy drinks, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein and granola bars, yogurt, and baked crackers and chips.

For the 21 million Americans ages 15 to 44 impacted by depression each year, the holidays can be overwhelming with extra responsibilities, expectations and stress.   While many are filled with cheer and goodwill toward others and hopes for the new year, for others, this is a time of sadness, depression and loneliness, and a time of family or financial stress.  Every day is a fight to cope with or overcome the holiday blues.

Switchboard of Miami, Inc., the area’s leading provider of telephone counseling, information, referral and crisis intervention services, is available to provide support and guidance to those grappling with such challenges during the holiday season — and every day — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   A team of trained counselors provides assistance in English, Spanish and Creole and other languages as well to those calling 305-358-HELP or 2-1-1. All services are provided confidentially and anonymously without charge to the caller.

To help combat the “blues,” these tips are offered:

1. Keep Healthy. Avoid alcohol or substance use, which can lead to further, deepened depression. Try to avoid eating too many cookies, candies, cakes, etc. Such sugar binges can create feelings of lethargy, similar to an emotional crash. Take a walk. Go to the beach. Listen to music.

2. Enjoy the moment. If opportunities arise to talk to family members or friends about challenges, then talk about the solutions instead of just focusing on the negative sides of situations. Do not wallow in the what-if’s of yesterday.

3. Maintain a holiday budget. While gift giving is fun, going beyond one’s means may backfire with depression when the bill arrives later.

4. Try to get over it. Holding resentments is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Look at what can be done before family gatherings to let go of the tension. Clearing emotional space will make for a more pleasant time with those family members.

5. Explore your spirituality. Visit a house of worship or a non-denominational gathering to gain some perspective and think beyond your own issues.

6. Acknowledge your feelings. The healing process begins when you admit that your emotions are creating issues. Then pick up the phone and call for help.

Switchboard of Miami, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the State of Florida. Last year, Switchboard answered nearly 170,000 calls, reassured 700 seniors who live alone and helped 5,000 youth make better life choices.

Motor development delay is a common concern for both parents and pediatricians.  Naturally, parents tend to compare their child to their other children or those of friends.  Pediatricians observe the infant in the office and ask questions to screen for developmental delay.  Of course, the earlier a problem is detected, the earlier the parents and pediatricians (and physical therapists, if necessary) can begin treatment.  Many general pediatricians simply ask, “Does your child roll over?” and other similar questions. Parents often are concerned if their child is not meeting the milestones, but it is completely normal for a child to be behind or ahead of other children.

Parents do not always realize that there is a developmental range for acquisition of motor, language, and social-emotional skills.  To understand this range, one only has to look at the Denver Developmental Screen (initially developed in the 1960s) to understand that developmental skills occur in defined windows of time.  Although the test has been criticized for not being sensitive enough to less severe problems or specific deficits, the results list the percentages of children meeting each milestone at a particular age.

Not only do children develop motor skills at different rates, some even develop their skills in different sequences. Motor skills generally progress from the center of the body outward and from the head downward.  For example, when learning to walk, most infants slowly transfer responsibility for movement from their arms to their legs.  However, some children skip certain stages of crawling, or never crawl at all, before they learn to walk. This is completely normal.

The most important points to remember are to be patient with motor development, continue discussing your concerns with your pediatrician and get an evaluation if necessary. Don’t worry if your child seems to be developing slower than others or slower than you would like—mostly likely, he or she is right on target.

Daniel Weissbluth is a Pediatrician in Chicago and a co-creator of the Weissbluth Method Infant Nap App and the Weissbluth Method Toddler Bedtime App available on all Apple Mobile Devices.  He writes with his father, Marc Weissbluth, on their blog, “Weissbluth Method” and recently edited his newest eBook:  “Six Sleep Problems and Solutions” available at all eBook stores.

References:
1. Frankenburg, William K.; Dobbs, J.B. (1967). “The Denver Developmental Screening Test”. The Journal of Pediatrics 71 (71): 181–191
2. Largo, R.H, Molinari, M. Weber, L.C Pinto and G. Duc. (1985).  “Early Development of Locomotion:  Significance of Prematurity, Cerebral Palsy, and Sex”  Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.  27, 183-19

While nearly every movie or sitcom dramatization of childbirth features the obligatory frantic drive to the hospital, a growing number of women are reconsidering the hospital option altogether. Why? Many mothers-to-be are re-evaluating their options and considering birth centers or homebirth because of concerns about hospital practices that are not based on the best evidence and because more information is available about the safety of out-of-hospital births for most women.

A mother’s choice of a birthplace is one of the most critical decisions she will make during her pregnancy. It’s important for mothers to take the time to consider what environment will improve their chances of receiving evidence-based birth practices that are safest for their babies.

Maternity care advocates have long recognized a gap between the care provided in some settings and the practices research has shown to benefit laboring mothers and their babies.

Reflecting the growing trend among mothers, a recent meeting of midwives, doctors, childbirth educators and many other stakeholders in the maternity health community provided a platform for discussion on how best to meet the evolving needs of mothers and babies. The Home Birth Consensus Summit marked a turning point in the intensifying debate over safe and appropriate birthplaces and the decision-making power women should have. In fact, the summit was recognized during a speech in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), who cited it as an important step in improving maternal health in the United States.

Following are six tips that will help mothers find the birth setting that’s right for them:

1. Choose a birthplace that allows you to be comfortable and secure.

The environment should enhance, rather than disrupt, labor and birth. Research has shown that birth is easier when you can freely move and change position in labor. Certain comfort methods, like activity and rest, eating and drinking, and bathing are more available to women who give birth outside of the hospital and/or are attended by midwives. Visit your prospective birth setting to get a feel for your comfort level.

2. Look for a caregiver whose philosophy about birth matches your own.

Places of birth and caregivers often go hand in hand. In making your choice, look for a caregiver who helps you feel confident and supported through pregnancy, labor and birth.  Whether an obstetrician, a family doctor or a midwife, it’s important that your caregiver listens, respects your ideas and questions and encourages you to make informed decisions. Read More

According to the Toy Industry Association, toys generated nearly $21 billion in sales in 2010. Many of those purchases came during the Christmas holiday season. No matter what time of year they are purchased, a danger risk comes along with them. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that, during that same year, 181,500 children under the age of 15 were treated in emergency rooms across the nation as a result of toy-related injuries. There were also 17 toy-related deaths in 2010.

This time of year, there is a big push for consumers to stock up on toys, and people love to get kids toys to open up. But placing an emphasis on safety has to be a top priority. It is important for anyone purchasing toys to take the time to minimize risks.

Here are 5 tips for choosing safe toys, this holiday or any time of the year:

1. Be a label reader. It is important to see past the toy and read the packaging. Look for “nontoxic” on anything that has art supplies, such as crayons, paints, clay, etc. Also, make sure paints are lead-free. Any children’s jewelry should have ASTM F2923 on the label, which means it has been tested and has met the guidelines set forth by the ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials).

2. Keep age in mind. While it may be tempting to purchase toys outside of the child’s recommended age, it may be dangerous. The age recommendations are there because of potential harm that may exist. Stick with buying toys within the child’s age group to help minimize risks.

3. Get the gear. Purchasing a new skateboard, bike or other such device may be exciting, but unless a child has the gear that goes with it, there may be a safety hazard. Always purchase the safety gear that is needed to go with such an item, such as helmets, kneepads, goggles, etc.

4. Evaluate electronics. It is advised that children under the age of eight not have electronic toys, because they could pose burn hazards. Also, all electronics should have the “UL” symbol on the package, which means they have been safety tested by Underwriters Laboratories.

5. Thrift with care. Many parents who are cash-strapped this holiday may head to thrift stores in an effort to find toy gifts for their kids. There may be great bargains in the bin, but there could also be potential safety hazards. It is difficult to know which toys may have been recalled, which are not working properly, or the recommended ages for each toy. Always minimize risks by thoroughly checking the product over and by doing a quick online search regarding the item, which should help provide info about recommended ages and past recalls.

The last thing anyone wants is to give a child a gift that ends up sending him or her to the emergency room or worse. While there is no sure-fire way to avoid injuries, following these safety tips will help you minimize the risks, and help make it a better experience.

Dr. Pamela McCullough, a pediatric nurse practitioner and the director of the nursing program at Stratford University’s Woodbridge campus (www.stratford.edu).  Stratford University offers a variety of degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as degrees in health sciences, such as EKG-phlebotomy, healthcare administration, pharmacy technician, and medical assisting. In addition, they offer degrees in culinary arts, computer information systems, hotel and restaurant management, and hospitality management.
Stratford University operates campuses in Tysons Corner, Richmond, and Woodbridge. It offers 35 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the areas of Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Health Sciences, Business Administration, and Information Technology. The degree programs are offered both on campus, as well as online. For more information on the competition or Stratford University, please visit www.stratford.edu.

The kids are out of school and on your nerves. Sleeping late.  Raiding the fridge.  Worshipping the teen trinity of sofa, cell phone and controller.  With more than one third of American children overweight, how on earth do you keep your kids off the couch and get them healthy and active over the upcoming holiday breaks?

It sounds simple, but to keep kids healthy on break you have to make it fun. If you demand your kids drop and do twenty pushups, it will backfire. It’s got to feel like play and more importantly, it’s got to feel like their idea, not your idea.

Top 10 ways to keep kids off the couch this holiday break:

• While watching TV, have a contest; who can come up with the most fun exercise during commercial breaks like jump roping with an invisible rope.

• Bring a football, soccer ball, basketball on vacation. Get outside with them and join the fun or invite a bunch of kids over to join in.

• Head to the Mall – you can walk, window shop, and burn some extra energy at the mall.

• Indoor Activity Centers – Visit Indoor Jump Houses, Indoor Trampoline Houses, and Indoor Playgrounds that have open play for kids.

• Walk to see the Holiday Lights – instead of piling in the car to drive the neighborhood; walk to see the holiday lights.

• Develop an indoor scavenger hunt – Depending on the age of your children, you can develop a hunt that will get the kids moving around the house. – Try “Safari Hide and Seek” –hide the Elephant and different animal toys and the child has to find it.

• Have a Challenge – See who can do the most sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks or any other activity that will get your kids heart’s pumping.

• Buy Active Holiday presents – try to purchase at least one present for the kids that will get them up and moving.  A Skipping rope, movement based video game, or even a hacky sack will encourage more movement.

• Train and Race in a Charity Run together – many towns have holiday fun runs for charity.  You can train together for the big event and then run or walk the race together.

• Create A Holiday Tradition – Whether it’s a yearly ski trip, a trip to the woods to cut a Christmas Tree, or a visit to the outdoor skating rink – replace sedentary holiday traditions with more active ones.

Dr. Sejal Shah, a pediatrician from Miami’s Children’s Hospital and the creator of Power Play (http://www.mediweightlossclinics.com/patients/program/powerplay/) the revolutionary and first-of-its kind LOCAL doctor supervised teen weight loss program. Powerplay was designed by trained professionals in the fields of pediatrics, public health, bariatric and education. It’s one of the first physician-supervised, comprehensive weight loss programs designed to specifically meet the needs of adolescents aged 12 -18.  Powerplay consists of individual and family consultation to provide guidance, motivation and support, along with multivitamin and calcium supplements specially formulated for teens, plus nutrition and exercise education.

This holiday season, road trips can be a fun, economical alternative to flying. But as hours on the open road add up and fast food wrappers stack up, tempers can flare, setting a stressful tone for what should be pleasurable days ahead.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Armed with the right strategies, not only can you and your family survive a long car trip and the travel food that often goes along with it; you can use it as a way to bond and kick off a fun-filled holiday getaway.

One good idea is to fight mental stress with physical stress. At least every two hours, do something that stresses your muscles for 30 to 60 seconds.

Human growth hormone (HGH) levels rise when you stress muscles for as little as 30 seconds. Once HGH starts to flow, you automatically feel less hungry, so you’ll be less likely to stop for food on the road. HGH also helps promote general muscle strength. To keep levels high and prevent mindless eating in the car, do one of the following exercises for at least 30 seconds every two hours you’re in the car:

• Take your hands and press them together as hard as you can, palms flat, elbows at shoulder height. Pull in your stomach at the same time.

• Put your hands together as if you were praying and bend your fingers down so your knuckles are together and your hands form a heart shape. Then press your elbows together as hard as you can.

• Suck in your stomach and hold it tight for as long as you can. Release and breathe.

• For passengers, hold onto the seat, brace yourself, and try to lift your legs up off the ground. Keep your knees and ankles together, and try to bring your knees to your chest.

• Fill’er up – with fruit. Fruit naturally maintains electrolyte flow through your body, which keeps your muscles comfortable. Plus, because it is naturally pre-packaged in its skin, you can easily take fruit anywhere, making it the perfect snack for eating on the go. Want something a little more compact without sacrificing nutrition? Pack some prunes, banana chips, or dried apricots for the road.

• Forgo caffeine and soda and drink water. As tempting as it can be to drink energy-boosting beverages in the car, think twice before you indulge. It makes for an unpleasant trip when someone is jacked up on caffeine or sugar. Both can worsen the agitation travelers already feel from being cooped up in the car. Water is the best thing.

• Do your best Darth Vader impression. When things get tense in the car, it pays to pull over and take a deep breath, especially for the driver. Close your eyes, take a deep breath in, and when you breathe out, do your best Darth Vader impression. The added vibration has been proven to relax the body better. Take 10 of these deep breaths to help you regroup.

With a little planning and a few creative strategies, you can survive any road trip with your sanity-and health-intact.

Dian Griesel, PhD, and Tom Griesel, authors of “TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust” (BSH, 2011). TurboCharged® is a groundbreaking 8-Step program that defies common weight-loss theories. It successfully delivers body-defining rapid fat loss, accelerates metabolism, and improves health and odds of longevity without gimmicks, supplements or special equipment. Common sense and a desire to be lean are all that is required for success at any age. For more information, log on http://turbocharged.us.com/about-2/learn-more/. Please follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/turbochargedUS and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/diangriesel.

Oh the hustle and bustle of the holidays . . . the music . . . the lights . . . the festivities. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or is it?  Isn’t it also the most busy, most harried, and possibly the most stressful time of the year?

Well not this year! These six simple Shortcuts will help you chill out, open your heart, cultivate gratitude, and remember what the season is really about. The Shortcuts are well-being exercises that are triggered by ordinary daily events. These easy tools will naturally integrate themselves into your holiday rhythm, creating more space for joy.

1. Take 5

Trigger: When you’re wrapping presents

Tool: Breathe in through your nose to the count of five. Hold your breath to the count of five. Exhale through your mouth to the count of at least five (longer is even better). Repeat several times.

Purpose: Breath work is universally considered grounding and relaxing. Deep exhalations stimulate calming mechanisms in your body. When you redirect your mind to an awareness of breath, you create a moment of calm in which inner peace can bloom.

2. Eyewitness

Trigger: When you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many visitors, too many parties, too much mayhem with kids in the house

Tool: Rub your hands vigorously together to create heat and friction in the palms of your hands. Then cup your hands over your eyes. Let your eyes and face relax under your hands. After several seconds (up to a minute) remove your hands, open your eyes, and imagine seeing your world with fresh eyes, as if you had just returned from a long and difficult journey. Remember that this year is unique, never to be repeated. See the scene around you as the once-in-a-lifetime event that it is.

Purpose: This exercise anchors you in the moment. Visualizing the world afresh, you create perspective and stimulate gratitude.

3. Remember This

Trigger: When you’re waiting in a check-out line at the mall or waiting while holiday shopping online/on the phone

Tool: Ask out loud, “What do I need to remember?” Listen to your heart for substantial answers like, “I need to remember that I love my husband and I’m committed to our relationship,” “I need to remember how lucky I am to have healthy children,” “I need to remember how grateful I am for the gift of life,” “I need to remember that the spirit of the holiday is about giving,” or “I need to remember that this too shall pass.” When the answer comes to you, feel the emotions behind the remembrances and let them flood your body.

Purpose: When you focus on positive emotions, you reduce your stress. Redirecting your thoughts to life’s big priorities helps snap you out of patterns of stressful thinking.

4. Who Is Your Mother?

Trigger: When you are in front of a cashier in the store or at the grocery

Tool: Look at the person in front of you and for a moment; reflect on the question ‘Who is (or was) your mother?’ Mentally shrink this person to a small child and imagine her relationship with her mother. Consider whether it was a happy or strained relationship. Imagine that relationship today, full of joys, struggles, expectations, and lessons in letting go. Recognize that this person, like you, has a history, a family, a mother (whom she is still connected to even if her mother has passed away). Breathe in the relationship between this stranger and her mother, and breathe out compassion to them both. Read More

As a pediatrician, parents are constantly asking me about parenting advice they’ve heard from friends and family members. I got so many questions, in fact, that my colleagues and I came up with a list of myths, including marketing claims, old-wives tales, superstitions and grandmotherly advice, that parents have passed on to us.

Some of these myths were funny, some were dangerous and some were designed with one purpose: to make some manufacturer out there a lot of money. But we wondered if there was any evidence that these myths and stories were true. And how could we debunk the false tips to help parents take better care of their children and stop them from wasting their hard-earned money?

One popular myth pediatricians hear is that teething causes fever, so let’s start there. Teething has a long history in medicine. Fever, diarrhea, infection and death have all been attributed to the first breakthrough of primary teeth in babies.

There was a point in history where lancing the gums was considered a treatment for this so-called ailment. After reviewing a parent’s report of symptoms, measurements of fever and having a pediatric dentist look for signs of tooth eruption, no connection between teething and any of these conditions was discovered. So why do parents continue to believe this myth? I think it is because tooth eruption occurs over the months and years when many other childhood illnesses also occur.

Teething may change an infant’s food preferences for the bottle or solid food. Additionally, putting various objects in the mouth to relieve the teething pain can expose the infant to viruses that may cause a runny nose or diarrhea. That does not mean, however, that tooth eruption itself is responsible for diarrhea or congestion. The only connection that exists is of some children experiencing ear pain when their molars come in. This may be due to swelling in and around the Eustachian tube.

This is just one example of the type of myths we studied and, in this case, debunked. There are hundreds out there, with more being created every day. My colleagues and I have addressed many of the most common ones, and we will continue to find the answers to parent’s most pressing concerns.

World-renowned pediatrician Marc Weissbluth and Daniel Weissbluth are the creators of the Weissbluth Method Parent Myth App currently featuring 33 popular parent myths. It is available for free on the iPhone, iPad and iTouch platforms running iOS 3.0 or later.

Football injuries can be scary for both players and parents.  So how do you know if an injury is more than just a bump or a bruise?  In today’s world, children as young as four and five years old are playing tackle football, with all the bells and whistles (helmets, refs, scoreboards, stadiums, etc.).  Here are some tips on how to evaluate your child with certain types of injuries.

Injured Arms and Legs:
For the younger kids (under the age of ten), unless you see some obvious deformity in the arms or legs, it will be rare your child has a serious injury, even with lots of crying and thrashing around.  Gently take the child off the field and put ice on the injured area for 15 minutes (always place a cloth between the skin and the ice pack as putting ice directly on the skin can cause injury).  If your child’s injury needs further attention, give a dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and wait at least another hour or two before seeking medical attention.  This approach will save a lot of unnecessary trips to the doctor.

If things are improving, but there is still a sore area, continue ice treatment for 15 minutes every two hours (again, through a cloth so you don’t freeze the skin), acetaminophen as needed, and instruct your child not to use the area until it is pain-free.  Your child should not go back into a game or back to practice until there is no pain or limping without the use of pain medicine.  Some extra padding to the area that was injured (usually bruised) will make things more comfortable for your little player.

You may visit the doctor to check out continuing pain sometime within the first 48 hours.  Even if it is determined that there is a broken bone, waiting the extra time to see if the symptoms resolve will not delay healing.

If there is a visibly deformed bone, call 911 so fire rescue can splint the limb and transport your child for medical attention.

Head and Neck Injuries:
Head and neck injuries are treated more cautiously since the potential consequences of an injury can be serious.  The good news is that it is rare to have significant head or neck injuries before 14-15 years old.  The culprit in most of these injuries is head/helmet tackling, so do what you can to make sure your child doesn’t do this and that his coaches don’t teach or encourage it.

If your child is complaining of either head or neck pain, he should stop any further play until cleared by a doctor.  If he is lying on the field complaining of either of these, call 911 so he can be moved in a safe manner.

Head injuries can lead to concussions and brain damage that gets worse with repeated exposure.  If your child is complaining of headaches related to football, he should stop play and see his doctor.

Dr. Ted Kaplan is a board certified pediatrician at After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care www.afterhourspediatrics.com.