Your Child is Hitting!! …3 Steps You Can Take to Stop This

Last updated on May 30th, 2017 at 11:13 pm

Boys are brother punch and fightingOur children hit to express themselves and get their needs met. If they had another way to manage their feelings and relationships, they would do so. Most children and adults do the best they can, in the moment, with the skills they have. The reasons for hitting vary for each child, you may wish to consider whether the child is experiencing anger, upset, frustration, boredom, disappointment, loneliness or other related emotions.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:  Here is a video along with three steps you can take to help modify this destructive behavior:

      1. Manage the moment. In the moment of the intensity we focus not on speaking but on calming. The emotional brain responds to limbic strategies not lots of words and instruction.  

        First ~ You are your children’s best teacher. How you manage their hitting impacts their developing skills. So quietly step close to them and express confusion over what is happening. “Boys, I am confused about the fighting.” This engages the “Thinker” the frontal lobes in their brains. Then provide a solution. “It’s a good time for us to go play outside.”  When you use Bloom, eventually, you will have an entire list of strategies, words and actions to use Cope - bloom graphicwhen the moment is intense, for now, the very first time, it is helpful to change their setting. Next time, you will better manage their space as they play.

        Second ~ Then, when the children are calm and safe, we circle back to prepare and prevent future mishaps by developing strategies including “Calming Cues” and “Anger Toolkits” so that the children are empowered to choose another behavior next time.

      2. Create a culture of kindness.When the children are calm, circle back to teach them that we live in a family where we respect one another with our words and our bodies. We are kind to one another. The first three chapters of The Family Coach Method can REALLY help you here.

 

    1. Focus on feeding the children whole real organic food.There is ample research that what we eat impacts how we feel and behave. If we are not feeding our bodies quality proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates, the body and brain cannot do their best. We love 100dayofrealfood, you might as well.

Few children hit when they are happy. Hitting is a way of saying, “This really is not working for me right now.” “My feelings are TOO BIG.” “I do not have the skills to work this out in a more cooperative way.” A child who is hitting is asking you to help them!

The magic is in using the mantras to help you calm the children now and then Managing The Moment to help everyone find a new way to manage their feelings when an impulse to be aggressive appears again.

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bloom cover - 140x208Written for real parents with anxious, angry and over-the-top kids, Bloom is a brain-based approach to parenting all children. Taking its lead from neuroscience and best practices in early childhood mental health, it offers parents, teachers and care providers the words, thoughts and actions to raise calm, confident children, while reducing the need for consequences and punishment. The first book of its kind, it provides pages full of printable mantras you can carry with you, hang on your fridge or use in your classroom to raise emotionally competent kids. Stop second-guessing the way you handle misbehaviors, and learn why they occur in the first place. Bloom is available at amazon.com

July 8, 2016 | Filed Under Affiliate, Community | Leave a Comment 

A Perfect Picnic for Family Health and Fun

Last updated on July 11th, 2016 at 12:27 am

Picnics are a great British tradition and a good way for you and your family to eat a healthy meal together.

If you combine a picnic with some physical activity – such as games or a brisk walk – you can have a healthy and fun day out that doesn’t have to cost much.

perfect-picnics-for-family-healthYour Picnic Basket

So, what’s going in your picnic basket?

Start with foods that contain carbohydrates (carbs), as these are an important source of energy. Foods that have carbs include breads, pasta and potatoes.

Choose wholegrain or wholemeal varieties where possible. For example, try wholegrain bread for your sandwiches. A wholemeal pasta salad also works well in a picnic.

Next, think about including protein, which is not only filling but helps to promote growth and repair in our bodies. Protein can come from lean meat in sandwiches, such as turkey or chicken breast, as well as from beans and pulses in salads.

Don’t forget to bring plenty to drink. Take a flask of water or 100% fruit juice without added sugar, instead of a bottle of sugary, high-calorie fizzy drinks.

Find out more about healthy eating.

Get Your 5 A DAY

A picnic is a great chance for the whole family to hit their 5 A DAY fruit and veg target.

Try a multicoloured salad with peppers, tomato, cucumber, carrot and lettuce.

Swap sugary and high-calorie treats, such as chocolate and cakes, for a fruit salad. Also, why not pack a piece of fruit for each member of the family to eat while on the move?

Fruit juice also counts towards your 5 A DAY, but it only counts as one portion no matter how much you drink. Fruit juice can be high in sugar, so look out for the ones without added sugar.

Get more 5 A DAY ideas in 5 A DAY and your family.

Get Active

Once you’re outside, use the opportunity to get active. Physical activity is important for the health of children and adults, and is a great way to spend time together.

A picnic is always welcome after a brisk walk, bike ride or energetic ball game.

When lunch is over, try playing a gentle game of frisbee or badminton.

Anything that raises your heart rate counts. It could be something as simple as a game of tag.

Find more ideas for getting active with your kids.

Stay Sun Safe

Remember to protect yourself and the children from the sun while you’re outside.

Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Learn more about sun protection.

Bites and Stings

Don’t let wasps or midges ruin your day out. Make sure you pack the insect repellent and cover up if necessary.

Find out what the 10 UK insects that bite or sting are. If you or someone else gets bitten or stung, find out how to treat insect bites and stings.

 





 

July 6, 2016 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

Child Health & Safety News Roundup: 06-27-2016 to 07-03-2016

Last updated on July 11th, 2016 at 09:59 am

twitter thumbIn this week’s Children’s Safety News: Bullying, Excessive Internet Use Increases Teen Suicide Risk, Study Finds https://t.co/zxzbkFeDQF

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world. Each day we use Twitter and Facebook to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and other caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues not on Twitter or FB (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 15 events & stories.

PedSafe Child Health & Safety Headline of the Week:
IKEA Recalls 29 Million Dressers After Child Deaths https://t.co/Evp25nlvjJ

July 5, 2016 | Filed Under Awareness | Leave a Comment 

Child Safety Seats – Take it From a Fireman

Last updated on July 11th, 2016 at 12:26 am

Two boys in car seats, travellingSummer is here and if you are like me, you now have a car load of children tagging along with you to do your daily errands that you normally did while they were in school.  Summer is prime time for road trips and field trips to all sorts of amazing places around our great country, but the facts are the facts and the facts are still very much pointing towards too many children either not properly secured in vehicles or just not secured at all.  There are laws in every state now that deal with seatbelts and car seats and still some of us do not wear our seatbelts and do not properly secure our children.  Please take it from someone who sees the results of not wearing seatbelts in many auto accidents: Seatbelts save lives!  And as of 2013, auto accidents are still among a leading cause of death in children, and still one of the most preventable.  Whether your child is an infant or a teenager, it is still important to make sure everyone is wearing seatbelts and is properly secured.

According to the CDC  In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children. In 2013, 638 children ages 12 years and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 127,250 were injured. But parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference.

Whenever you’re on the road, make sure your child passengers are buckled in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts. Buckle all children ages 12 and under in the back seat. Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat or in front of an airbag.  Note: the safest place for children of any age to ride is properly buckled in the back seat.

Data shows that:

  • In 2013, restraint use saved the lives of 263 children ages 4 years and younger.
  • Car seats reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4.
  • Booster seats reduce the risk for serious injury by 45% for children ages 4 to 8 years.
  • Between 1975 and 2013, child restraints saved an estimated 10,421 lives of children ages 4 and younger.

Know the Stages

Make sure children are properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height, and weight.

  • Birth up to age 2 – Rear-facing car seat. For the best possible protection, infants and children should be buckled in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until age 2 or when they reach the upper weight or height limits of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.
  • Age 2 up to at least age 5 – Forward-facing car seat. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat, in the back seat, until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.
  • Age 5 up until seat belts fit properly – Booster seat. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (by reaching the upper height or weight limit of their seat), they should be buckled in a belt positioning booster seat until seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Remember to keep children properly buckled in the back seat for the best possible protection.
  • Once seat belts fit properly without a booster seat – Children no longer need to use a booster seat once seat belts fit them properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). The recommended height for proper seat belt fit is 57 inches tall. For the best possible protection keep children properly buckled in the back seat.

Need Advice?

Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat’s owner’s manual or get help installing them from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.  Find a Child Passenger Safety Technician.  

September 19 is National Seat Check Saturday, when drivers with child passengers are encouraged to visit a child safety seat inspection station to have a certified technician inspect their car seat and give hands-on advice free of charge…(although no need to wait for September to get help – it’s available year-round).  Locate a car seat inspection station in your area.

  • Buckle children in the middle of the back seat when possible, because it is the safest spot in the vehicle.
  • Buckle children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts on every trip, no matter how short.
  • Set a good example by always using your seat belt.

Summary  a.k.a. the highlights (…at the risk of repeating myself)

  1. Using the correct car seat or booster seat can be a lifesaver.
  2. Make sure your child is always buckled in an age- and size-appropriate car seat or booster seat.
  3. Use a rear-facing car seat from birth to age 2.
  4. Use a forward-facing car seat from age 2 up to at least 5.
  5. Use a booster seat from age 5 up until seat belts fit properly.
  6. Use a seat belt once seat belts fit properly without a booster seat.

So if you are not going to take it from the Fireman, please take it from the CDC. SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES. No matter the age!!

As an EMS professional I urge everyone to buckle up and as a father I urge every parent to be the example in the care and buckle up.

I hope everyone has an amazing summer and you go amazing places.   But please WEAR YOUR SEATBELT!  Thank you!

July 4, 2016 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

A Little Boy Grows Up – Through the Eyes of an Optometrist

Last updated on March 5th, 2018 at 12:20 pm

Cute asian boy doing eye test.I strongly believe that children with undetected vision and ocular health problems can face many challenges in life academically, emotionally, and athletically.  Every child deserves to have high quality eye care to assist them in succeeding all of life’s obstacles and adventures.  Be aware that a vision screening performed at a pediatrician’s office is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam at an optometrist’s office.  Vision screenings are a very limited process and will not evaluate how healthy a child’s eyes are or how well their eyes work together.  It is important to have a relationship with a caring and knowledgeable eye doctor who is invested in a child’s growing visual world.

During my first year of private practice as an optometrist, I met a handsome little boy named Connor.  Connor’s mom wanted to bring him to me for a comprehensive eye exam.  Being only seven, he was curious and very excited for his first eye exam. The only thing big about him were his large, blue eyes behind his long eyelashes.  To reach the height of my slit lamp microscope, Connor had to sit on his knees within the exam chair as I examined him.

In the course of the preliminary testing, I could already tell that Connor’s vision in his left eye was slightly weaker compared to his right eye.  Due to this slight visual imbalance, he could not pass a standard depth perception test.  Also, his left eye could not focus up close on smaller print to read as well as his right eye.  Connor’s difficulties were due to a combination of farsightedness and astigmatism in his left eye.  I prescribed a pair of eyeglasses which would allow his left eye to see more clearly, receive an accurate visual signal, and promote proper visual development.

My staff and I had a lot of fun selecting the perfect frame to complement Connor’s adorable face.  We taught him how to properly handle and care for his new glasses.  Knowing how important his glasses will be for is eye development, I encouraged him to always wear them reading and all near visual tasks.

Throughout the next ten years, he would return for each of his subsequent annual eye exams.  His visits gave me the opportunity to get a glimpse of his world.  Each visit allowed me to know what is important to him, and how I could provide him the clearest picture to that world.  When baseball became his world, I introduced him to contact lenses to improve his hand-eye coordination.  I knew that when his eyes were red and itchy that the pollen index was above 5.0, and he would need some prescription eye drops for his eye allergies.  When he got his first life-guarding job, we discussed the benefits of UV and glare protection with the use of polarized sunglasses.  When he told me he was about to test for his driver’s license, I was confident that I had prepared his eyes to pass the visual exam with flying colors. As Connor’s world shifted towards a world of digital devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, I warned him about overexposure to blue light from these device screens  which can be harmful.  I advised  him on how to take visual breaks away from his monitors and ways to block the harmful blue light before they eventually damage his retinae.

This summer, Connor came in for his typical annual eye exam.  He had just completed his final year of high school and was leaving for college in the fall.  I could not help but feel so many different emotions about him leaving for college.  In the past ten years, I have been seeing the world the way Connor has seen it.  In that moment, I saw how fast all those years had passed through my exam room.  I was happy, proud, and sad to see how Connor was transformed from the little boy that barely fit into the exam chair to a young man who I now need to look upwards to in order to speak directly to him.  It has been incredible and almost unbelievable how much life has changed for him.  In my small contribution, I have had the honor and privilege to help him achieve his full potential by providing him with the best eye care that I knew how.

July 1, 2016 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment