Parents influence whether children eat fruits, vegetables
Most children learn to like and eat vegetables before age 5 years.
Most children learn their eating habits directly from their parents plate.
NOW is the time.
A few important tips:
1) Children who SEE their parents eating fruits and vegetables are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables.
2) If you dont buy sodas and sugar drinks, there will be none available!
This sounds simple, but it is is a common area of weakness.
3) Make each fruit and vegetable FUN: What’s the colour? Is it cooked or raw.
See which style of preparation your child prefers and encourage them to experiment.
4) Make each plate colourful.
Learn MoreSports Drinks and Healthy Hydration
Sports drinks, fruit drinks, soda and any other sugar-laced drink will never be good for children. Its just not nutrition.
Kids and Sports Drinks: Healthy Hydration or Soda Incognito?
Sports drinks may seem like a healthier kid’s beverage than soda and other sugary beverages, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, last week a bill sponsored by the California Medical Association was proposed that would ban the sale of all sports drinks, including Gatorade and Powerade, in middle school and high school cafeterias. Sports drinks are already banned in California elementary schools. The bill would act as an amendment to the existing code that bans the sale of soda in schools.
http://breakingmuscle.com/nutrition/kids-and-sports-drinks-healthy-hydration-or-soda-incognito
Our Food is Making us Sick
Have you ever wondered why some many children today are allergic to “every little thing”?
This video will open your eyes to WHY food allergies are on the rise. What are you feeding your children? Is it real food? Do you know HOW every day products on supermarket shelves could be making them sick?
Robyn O’Brien speaks clear and strong about Food Allergies and Genetically Modified Food
Interesting informative Ted X discussion on genetic engineering, food allergies and more
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWXrRftyOMY&w=560&h=315]
REAL FOOD, IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?
Learn MoreTime to Unplug the TV!
One study found that children who spent more than eight hours watching TV each week at age 3 were more likely to be obese at age 7. Having a TV in their bedroom ups their chances of being overweight even more, says Amy Jamieson-Petonic, RD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
These guidelines will help your family maintain just the right amount of screen time.
- Limit TV and other media to less than two hours per day for kids age 2 and older. Do not allow television viewing for children less than 2 years of age, according to recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Keep TV out of the bedrooms.
- With the exception of an occasional family movie and pizza night, keep television sets off while eating.
- Sit down with your kids to help them select the specific TV shows they’ll watch, giving them some control and helping them make decisions. Watch with them when you can.
You can’t hurry love: Handling your child’s Valentine’s Day blues
Heart Hands
by Alexis Goffe
The unfortunate truth is: Valentine’s Day is not a special day of love, flowers or chocolates for everyone. What is even more unfortunate is that the negative feelings of being unloved, not special, rejected, lonely or even unattractive on Valentine’s Day can be experienced by our children. This truth can be extremely hard for children as early as prep/primary school. A guidance counsellor once told me that his granddaughter who is in Grade 2 was heard asking a male classmate, “Do you love me? It’s ok, I can handle the truth!” Being hurt knows no age; or gender for that matter. We tend to think that Valentine’s Day is a potentially challenging time for girls. However, boys are just as susceptible to these feelings as girls.
Here are four suggestions for handling your child’s experiences around Valentine’s Day:-
Listen
Find out if your child is experiencing any feelings surrounding Valentine’s Day. Do they have plans? Are they planning to ask someone to be their valentine? How are they feeling about having a valentine or not having a valentine? During this conversation, listen to your child and listen well. Give them your undivided attention and create a space for your child to be open and honest.
Offer support
Once you know the child’s thoughts and feelings surrounding Valentine’s Day, thank them for allowing you into their world. Let them know how important it is to be able to tell safe people about their feelings in good and bad times. You can do two things at this point: i) Ask them how best you can support them or ii) Ask for their permission to give them some advice.
Validate feelings
This is one of my favourites. Let your child know it is ok to feel down if they do not have a valentine. One of the best ways to normalize their feelings is to tell them a story of a time you experienced similar feelings and how you handled them. It is important not to trivialize your child’s feelings or categorize it as “being young.” Legitimize their feelings as much as possible.
Encourage family time
Times of loneliness for our children are prime opportunities to reinforce the love you have for your child. Planning family activities on Valentine’s Day can be a great way to lessen negative feelings and strengthen the family bond. Possible activities include watching a movie, having a special family dinner, playing a game, creating an arts and craft project or seeing a play.
Parents must provide an environment of love, acceptance and warmth for their children. Show them the type of love and respect you want them to expect, demand and experience in their future relationships.
We know children may want to find love and find it quick. So parents, take this opportunity to remind your child that – while they can’t hurry love, they will just have to wait and it doesn’t come easy – the love you have for them is already present and everlasting.
Alexis Goffe is a counselling psychologist at Caribbean Tots to Teens. He can be reached at alexis@caribbeantotstoteens.com
Learn MorePreparing for the Doctors Visit 2: What to carry
What to carry:
Doctor’s Documents (The Doc’s docs)
Be sure to walk with all of your “Doc’s docs”. It is important to keep all documents related to your child’s health together in a waterproof “ziplock” style bag. Each child should have a clearly labelled bag of their own. These bags must be stored in a safe place with easy access.
The bag must contain:
1) The Child Health and Development PASSPORT is a must!
- If your child was born before Sept 2010, then their immunization card is necessary,
- If your baby was issued a health passport at UHWI include that too. Since it is quite big you might need to fold it and use a bigger bag to contain it completely.
2) Any casualty card, docket number or appointment card for any hospital or clinic to which the child has been. This will make it much easier to co-ordinate care and prevent unnecessary retesting.
3) Any unfilled or repeat prescriptions and a list of all current medications (if you don’t wish to bundle them all up and carry them with you) the information on the boxes is quite valuable: strength of medication, dose and frequency may all require adjustment to improve response. Walk with everything!
4) Insurance cards: this is a great way to make sure you don’t mix up Daddy and junior’s cards… not an uncommon occurrence.[[MORE]]
The bag may also include:
- Copies of results for previously done tests, or a note with the date, facility attended and impression of the test.
- Summary notes from any other physicians seeing your child, especially if they have a chronic illness.
- A notebook: with all your questions jotted down from at home. This will also allow you to record important points from the visit: scheduled instructions, flag signs of concern, points for follow-up, and other tips. Some “Techies” keep this lists on their smart phones 🙂
- Pictures or a videos of anything that has triggered your visit, made you concerned or is simply hard to explain. This can be anything from a funny sound, an unusual lump, a strange bowel action. Never be shy to share it with your doctor. A picture is worth a thousand words.
TOYS
You are the child’s primary playmate during the wait AND during the office visit when you are trying to communicate with the doctor. Be prepared! Carry two or three sturdy, under-used toys to increase the appeal of “re-discovery” when they are revealed in the waiting room. An old handbag, with a few small toys tucked inside, can be an excellent waiting-room distraction for toddlers and other young children.
If your child is old enough to read, a book may hold their attention, giving you just enough time to speak to the doctor before they interrupt you.
An ill child usually appreciates their own comfort toy to hug and hold.
FOOD AND CLEAN –UP
Children should not be allowed to have snacks while waiting. It is best not to eat or drink for one hour before coming to the doctor. This will make the examination more comfortable, especially while lying flat. In an acute illness, especially trauma, your child may have to be “starved” even longer. This is to ensure safe administration of strong pain-killers or sedation if, for example, suturing (stitches) or wound cleaning is required. Save the food and drink for after the visit. Hide it where they cannot help themselves to it.
For babies and toddlers take any food and changing items that you would normally travel with for a two hour trip.
Regardless of your child’s age, it is best to carry a change of underwear and a plastic (waterproof) bag. Many children have accidents while at the doctors’ office. Having a change of clothes will help to minimize the stress of a mishap.
Nobody likes to have to go to the doctor, but if you are prepared,
the whole visit can be a truly helpful, healing experience
and a learning opportunity for all involved.
Preparing for the Doctor’s Visit 1: Who and When
When to set appointments:
Schedule a time that will allow you to arrive about 10-15 minutes early. This will give you leeway for those “unpredictables” like tantrums and bathroom visits. It will also give you enough time to complete the administrative paperwork prior to meeting the doctor. This is critical to the smooth running of the office and easy delivery of health care for you. Be sure to fill in ALL of your (and other care givers) relevant contact information. You may also use his time to find out what the contact arrangements for follow-up and emergencies are for the practice in general and for your personal physician.
Who should come:
If this is the first time the child is going to see this doctor, or first trip for a referral then all care-givers should be there. All care-givers, aunts, grandparents, nannies etc, who are familiar with or manage parts of the child’s daily routine and especially those who will be implementing the changes and treatments recommended, should be present at the visit.
This can very tricky for working and / or out-of-town parents and caregivers, but the time spent coordinating everyone will make it MUCH easier for the doctor to get the facts right and give clear meaningful instructions the first time.
Nobody likes to have to go to the doctor, but if you are prepared,
the whole visit can be a truly helpful, healing experience
and a learning opportunity for all involved.
.
Use the Crosswalk! with Grover from Sesame Street
Use the Crosswalk! on Vimeo on Vimeo
via Use the Crosswalk! on Vimeo.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/23271896 w=400&h=225] Learn MoreUse Your Helmet! with Grover from Sesame Street
Use Your Helmet! on Vimeo on Vimeo
via Use Your Helmet! on Vimeo.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/23271812 w=400&h=225] Learn MoreBuckle Up! with Grover from Sesame Street
via Buckle Up! on Vimeo.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/23272278 w=400&h=225] Learn More