Kids and Enteroviruses (Gastrointestinal Tract Illnesses)
Last updated on May 14th, 2023 at 01:07 am
Enteroviruses: Now you see the word that describes those viral infections that affect the gastrointestinal tract to one degree or another. These become more prevalent during the warmer months of the year, and therefore may affect a lot of children of early school age during the beginning and end of the school or nursery year.
Your child or toddler may experience vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever in one combination or another, but these illnesses, as a rule, tend to be short and mild. In general the diarrhea usually does not contain blood or mucous as these are found in the diseases that are usually caused by bacterial agents. The stools are usually clear to yellow/brown and may be watery or just very soft. Vomiting, fever, and diarrhea usually occur simultaneously but the vomiting is first, followed in rapid order by diarrhea and possibly fever. There are literally hundreds of named viral illness that can cause these symptoms including an enterovirus that you are familiar with; poliovirus is an enterovirus that is usually mild but until the advent of polio vaccine, this virus was capable of infecting the brain and causing any number of disturbing and sometimes permanent symptoms. It should be said at this point that even though these are usually mild illnesses they are all capable of very rare brain invasion.
I have spoken of the symptoms of these illnesses and it is now important to help parents decide what are the symptoms that should be evaluated by a doctor. The younger the child or infant, the shorter period of time with these symptoms are needed to cause dehydration.
Signs of dehydration in an infant or child are (but not limited to): fussiness, decreased volume of urine or frequency of urination, dryness of the tongue surface- not necessarily the lips, a lack of interest in his/her surroundings and listlessness.
In other words parents always know when their child is acting really sick. A short talk with your Pediatrician will determine whether your child should be seen in the doctor’s office or things may be managed at home.
Certainly severe dehydration is very rare and has very significant symptoms that probably will not be missed by a parent.
As with all viral illnesses, the best way to prevent spread in the home starts and ends with good vigorous hand washing. Children will probably be contagious about one day prior to symptoms (you can’t know) and a day after any fever decreases to normal. If your child is in diapers, you will want to keep him/her at home until the diarrhea at least slows, and your child is acting normal with normal temperature.
How to Talk to Your Kids About…Rejection
Last updated on May 14th, 2023 at 01:05 am
Rejection is part of life. And although it is not fun, it is something that we all have to deal with.
As parents, it is key for us to help our children understand rejection, long before it hits them, so that the situations don’t set them back, discourage them, or keep them from trying again.
When your child is faced with rejection, don’t overreact. We need to sympathize with them, listen to them, and let them know they are understood. Then we can work to develop a plan to handle the situation.
After rejection, children are already feeling sad, hurt and vulnerable. They need us to be supportive and loving. It is not the time to lecture, say “I told you so”, or try to prove a point. This will only make our children feel rejected again.
Conversations about rejection need to focus on a few key points…
- Help children understand what rejection is. Explain that it is a part of life.
- Talk to them about the fact that not everyone will want to be their friend, or include them. That is okay and is not a reflection on them.
- Talk to them about not relying on others to define their worth.
- Talk to your child about choosing friends who are kind and accepting.
It is also important for us as parents, to model good behavior when it comes to rejection. Our children watch everything we do.
Lastly, talk about past situations where your child (or when you) have worked through rejection. Talk about the strategies they used and help them apply “what worked” to new situations.
There is no way around it, rejection will happen. Preparing our children ahead of time will give them the courage to work through it and move on.
5 Simple Steps to Relieve Your Child’s Hay Fever Symptoms
Last updated on May 14th, 2023 at 01:04 am
Sniffling, sneezing, puffy eyes — kids’ hay fever misery can be the first sign of spring. Up to 40 percent of all children struggle with allergic rhinitis, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). That’s the proper name for the upper respiratory symptoms caused by either year-round allergens (like mold or pet fur) or seasonal allergens (like pollen, which multiplies and becomes airborne in warmer weather).
Medication can help manage your child’s hay fever symptoms, but the best remedy is to nip those allergies in the bud. “Once the bad symptoms start, it takes less and less pollen to exacerbate the whole vicious cycle,” says Neeta Ogden, M.D., an adult and pediatric allergist at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey. Here are a few steps you can take to ease your kid’s hay fever symptoms:
Step No. 5 to Ease Hay Fever Symptoms: Fend off fresh air.
Keep windows shut from early morning to late afternoon, when pollen counts are at their peak. Change filters in your air-conditioning units and vents frequently. Keep car windows up and your vehicle’s air-conditioning on the “closed system” setting so air recirculates instead of coming in from outside.
Step No. 4 to Ease Hay Fever Symptoms: Check pollen counts.
Log on to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website for a daily update. When the numbers are high, take extra precautions, such as asking your child’s school to keep her indoors during recess.
Step No. 3 to Ease Hay Fever Symptoms: Keep the house clean.
Despite your best efforts to keep allergens out, they will still find their way inside — and onto just about every surface. Extra vacuuming and dusting can help, along with regularly washing your child’s bedding. Wipe down pets and keep them out of your child’s bedroom and off of the furniture.
Step No. 2 to Ease Hay Fever Symptoms: Strip ’em down.
As soon as your child enters the house after spending significant time outside (and before she gets anywhere near her bedroom), peel off her pollen-laden clothes and toss them into a plastic bag until they’re ready to go into the wash. Have her shower and shampoo immediately.
Step No. 1 to Ease Hay Fever Symptoms: Get a jump on medication.
If your child takes preventive allergy medications, she should start taking them well in advance of warmer weather. Since kids’ bodies can change dramatically from year to year, visit the allergist to be sure the medication and dosage is appropriate. “Don’t wait until the last minute. Make it routine to see your allergist in late February or early March,” says Ogden.
From medication to spring-cleaning, early precautions can keep hay fever symptoms at bay — or at least to a minimum.
7 Reasons a Pet is Good For Your Special Needs Kid
Last updated on March 25th, 2023 at 01:47 pm
1. Kids love animals. Animals make kids happy.
2. Pets can be calming. Petting a dog, listening to the purr of a cat or just gazing at a fish tank can lower blood pressure and stress levels, according to WebMD.
3. The chores involved with caring for a pet can help teach kids responsibility and empathy as well as help the child feel productive.
4. The physical acts involved with caring for a pet can be therapeutic as long as they match the child’s abilities. Stretching to brush a dog is much more rewarding than stretching in gym class! Work with your child’s physical therapist to see which movements can be combined with therapy goals. Chore charts for pet care also help with organization and remembering sequences.
5. Pets don’t see disabilities. They don’t care if a child looks or sounds different from other kids.
6. Pets are friends. They listen to books, even if the words are not pronounced very well. They also listen to problems and are very good at keeping secrets.
7. They may help kids stay healthy. Children who have a pet in their home are less likely to have allergies or asthma.
Choose the correct pet for your situation and lifestyle. Even if you end up doing most of the work involved with owning a pet, your child will gain so much by having an animal in the household.
Senseez Pillows: Vibration to Relax, Calm & Soothe Little Bodies
Last updated on October 23rd, 2024 at 05:53 pm
My name is Stephanie Mitelman. I am a Mom and I created the Senseez Pillows. The name Senseez means to ease the senses… Let me tell you the story of how Senseez was born…
When my son was 2, he was diagnosed with a special need. One of his difficulties was sitting in one place long enough to eat his meal, read a story, or sit for circle time.
I spoke to an occupational therapist who recommended a vibrating mat to help with this.I bought one for my son, and he instantly loved the sensations!
But one day, I wanted to take him to our local library for story telling, and though the mat would help… it was large, black, heavy, and had to be plugged in. I was also concerned about my son looking different or standing out with this large mat.
So I went on a search to find a small, lightweight, portable pillow that would offer the same sensations that he could take with him. I couldn’t find one!
So Senseez was born!
Senseez are colorful, lightweight, fun shaped vinyl pillows that offer a gentle vibration when they are squeezed or sat on. They operate on batteries and have a small pouch inside that can vibrate to offer sensations to relax, calm or soothe the body. They’re small enough to take anywhere and are made just for little bums!
Kids that have trouble sitting for meals, stories, car rides, shopping trips, school work, movies, or anything else will be comforted by the vibrations of Senseez. Kids that have trouble falling asleep will enjoy the relaxing sensations.
The original prototypes were sewn in the basement of our home! We made about 25 pillows by hand, and distributed them throughout schools and therapy centers in our area. Since Senseez was created to be taken everywhere and to be used by multiple children, we used a vinyl material, since it is considered to be the most hygienic and easiest to keep clean. The vinyl is also water resistant. We also created a Senseez furry option for children who would like more tactile input.
After we got some feedback, we hired an engineer to perfect the vibrating mechanism we needed. Once that was complete, we had the pillows tested by Canadian standards for lead, small parts and flammability.
We then connected with an importer who handled the production. Our first order was for 600 pillows. Once the word started getting out, we sold out within 9 months!
In April 2013, we were also invited to do a taping on the Dragon’s Den television show. Today, we have 14 different distributors across Canada and the US, and the pillows are now being used across schools, therapy centers and many homes! The feedback we get is so positive, and the ways in which the pillows are being used is so inspiring. Here is an example:
I wanted to share a positive story regarding your Senseez Pillows. I gave one of the pillows to my client who is part of our deaf blind program. Although she is very fluent in hand over hand sign language as well as Braille, she struggles a lot with expressive communication. We have been working closely with her to initiate requests, preferences, feelings…..communication in general. The pillow was introduced during a session as a sensory aid with vibration. She immediately started hugging the pillow and placing it behind her back ……all while signing the word “happy”.
While her expressive communication still remains a struggle, she is now on a regular basis asking for the “vibrating pillow”. She has created a sign that meshes together the words vibrate and pillow, which she independently will communicate to others!
It’s a huge break through!!!!!! It is the first time that she has communicated a want.
Needless to say, we will be needing some more pillows 🙂
Research shows that vibrational therapy has been used for many years in many different forms. Some children require the vibrations to help calm their bodies, while other children just enjoy the way it feels!
We are thrilled that our pillow is helping children, parents, teachers and therapists!
HEALTHFUL HINTS
Tips for working with children who have difficulty sitting in one place for any length of time:
- Some children do best with time limits. Let the child know how long they will have to sit for. A start and finish time can help. i.e: sit for 3 minutes to finish snack.
- Sometimes using a visual timer can help. Visual timers are available at most special needs stores.
- When training a child to sit for a period of time, start small and the build it up. One minute, goes to two, then five etc…
- It is okay to use outside reinforcers during this process. Children respond well to rewards, like their favorite treats. You want to build in a reward at the beginning and it won’t be long before long they won’t need it anymore.
- It is also okay to use other distractors like TV or iPad in the beginning. We want to calm the child during this hard task. For some children, TV and iPad can help reduce the anxiety of staying one place may cause. After a while, the distraction won’t be needed either.
- And you will need to verbally prompt at the beginning. Prompting is giving a gentle reminder about what the child is supposed to be doing, and reinforcing it when they do.
- It is always important to reinforce the good behavior (when they do sit in one place), and not only discuss when they don’t.
- And lastly, some children enjoy different sensations to help soothe their senses. Vibrations are helpful. Other sensations could be a weighted vest or blanket, or something that offers compression.
Note: Each child is different and you will have to experiment with what works with your child!
I’ll Give This “10”: How to Help Kids Reframe BIG Feelings
Last updated on March 25th, 2023 at 01:47 pm
How can you help kids deal with BIG feelings or emotions? With all the stress kicked into high gear by the holiday season -or any time kids are overly anxious- help children to understand and reframe their feelings and life experiences by having a Cognitive Conversation that recognizes and acknowledges their emotions and then lets them decide how long they want to continue to feel that way…
Consider a conversation that sounds something like this:
Kids! We all have BIG feelings sometimes. Some experiences bring us feelings of frustration, anxiety or anger. Let’s talk about times when we might make a decision about how long we will be “in” our feelings and when we will choose to let them go. Will we be “in” our feelings for 10 seconds, 10 minutes or 10 hours? You decide. Here’s an example…
If you waited in line for an ice cream cone and when it’s finally your turn, you learn they are out of vanilla ice cream, you might say to yourself, “That is super frustrating. I was so hungry for a vanilla cone. I’ll give this 10 seconds and then ask for a chocolate one.”
I’ll Give This 10! is a practical tool for feelings exploration, cognitive reframing and mood modulation.
In I’ll Give This 10, we learn how to recognize that when we are having BIG feelings, we name them and then tell ourselves how long we plan to experience these BIG feelings. We usually choose to “feel our emotions” for 10 seconds, 10 minutes, or 10 hours. Of course, this “rule of 10” is a cognitive construct, it could be 2 minutes or 27 minutes. But children get “10,” so it is a wonderful starting point to help a child to determine:
- “HOW BIG is this feeling?”
- “HOW LONG am I going to let this feeling determine my thoughts and behaviors?”
- “WHEN will I let this feeling go?”
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