Why Research Says it’s Actually Good for Kids to Daydream

Last updated on December 10th, 2018 at 06:30 pm

School has been in session for a couple of months now, but winter break is still weeks away. This is prime time for kids to start to be a little less focused, distracted, and perhaps even daydream during school time. In our culture of hyper-stimulation and constant information flow, the idea of daydreaming often get met with judgmental glances and even reprimand from teachers. While we all want our kids to focus on their school work, research suggests that there may be a valuable place for daydreaming as well.

In recent years, researchers have begun to look into what the brain does during these times of “day dreaming” or what they call “inward attention.” They are beginning to see how time spent focused inward may actually help students focus better on outward tasks. Some research has shown that when times of inward reflection were incorporated into the school day, students often became less anxious, performed better on tests, and were able to plan more effectively.

Time for inward reflection is also linked to social-emotional development. In order to understand the feelings of others, our own feelings, and gain insight into moral decision-making, allowing time of inward reflection is necessary. Kids’ brains are still quite immature in many ways. If time is not allowed for them to decompress from constant input and have time to actually make meaning of all the information they absorb, it will ultimately have no place in their lives in the long-term.

This idea of inward attention, of course, goes against much of our cultural atmosphere at this time. We are constantly bombarded by information, technology, screens, etc. Even for adults, this constant stimulation can be overwhelming, but for kids it can be paralyzing. I’ve seen examples of this in my own experience with youngsters. While volunteering in my son’s kindergarten class, I sometimes notice kids just staring off into space and not “paying attention.” While they may seem “unfocused” to the observer, I wonder if they are not just having a moment of this “inward attention” to help their brain re-group from all the stimulation.

Children are learning and absorbing information almost constantly, especially at school. It’s great to be able to allow them some time to just day dream or let their mind wander without having to worry about the end product. I have noticed this even with my 3-year-old. After playing for a while, he will often just lay down and drink something or hold a toy, seemingly “doing nothing.” After a few minutes, however, he will perk up and say something clever or begin playing in a new way. It seems that, given the opportunity, kids will carve out this “day dreaming” time for themselves.

If this time of inward attention is so important for children’s development, how can we allow space for this in our homes?

• Allow time after school for kids to “decompress” from the day without other forms of stimulation (e.g., TV, tablets, etc.)
• Allow for quiet time on a regular basis. Kids may resist this at first, but once it becomes routine they usually learn to enjoy it. They can read books or play quietly with toys but the overall goal is time without a set goal or schedule.
• Time in nature can often promote inward attention. Allow kids plenty of time to be outside, go for hikes or just play in the leaves.
• Promote a mindset of reflection in your home. Recognize that not everything you or your child does has to be productive. This goes against what our culture tells us, but it’s possible. Your child spending an hour playing in the leaves or sitting in their room daydreaming is not “wasted time.”

We all know the importance of children learning to focus their attention on tasks or assignments. In fact, the ability to focus on a task and persist when it gets difficult has been linked to many positive outcomes for kids. An inward focus, however, may be equally important for children to help develop these focusing skills, as well as develop social-emotional skills.

Child Health & Safety News 11/5: When a Country Bans Spanking…

Last updated on December 10th, 2018 at 06:30 pm

In this week’s Child Safety News: Dressers Exempt From Industry Safety Standard Fail Consumer Reports’ Tests – New data show dressers 30 inches tall and under have been linked to deaths, so why aren’t they covered? bit.ly/2F25Uyu 

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 social media to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we overlook something, but overall we think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. Still, quite a bit happens every day – so to make sure you don’t miss anything, we offer you a recap of this week’s top 20 events & stories.

• Adulting: Teach Your (nearly) Grown Kids the 9 Skills They Need Now – Ask Doctor G bit.ly/2qr4mnv 2018-11-04
• Sharp Rise Seen in Kids’ ER Visits for Mental Health Woes bit.ly/2QihRkT 2018-11-04
• In Mexico, an estimated 2300 children traveling with migrant caravan still in need of protection and support – UNICEF uni.cf/2F228oQ 2018-11-04
• Research shows early introduction of peanut reduced the risk of allergy development in high-risk infants and may do the same for other foods. Don’t miss the discussion with MichaelPistiner Sunday at AAP18: http://ow.ly/VEca30mmtgC 2018-11-04
• It’s Daylight Savings: Check Smoke Alarms & Keep Your Family Safe with SafeKids Downloadable Fire Safety Checklist bit.ly/2P5ibXn 2018-11-04

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Headline of the Week
What Happens When A Country Bans Spanking?
A new study looking at 400,000 youths from 88 countries has answers n.pr/2qjTjfH

• Doctors’ son died 10 days before flu shot appointment. Now, they want to save your child cnn.it/2qp6ITS  2018-11-04
• Over a million Texas children could qualify for subsidized child care — but less than 10 percent of them receive it bit.ly/2qtZj5P 2018-11-03
• How Can You Get Your Kid to Go to Sleep More Easily? bit.ly/2CZyNZp 2018-11-03
• 10th Patient Dies in Viral Outbreak at New Jersey Pediatric Facility. 27 cases have been associated with the respiratory virus at the center bit.ly/2CYi7Sb 2018-11-02
• Teens and parents discover how to address cyberbullying with help from Microsoft Store | bit.ly/2qsBB9P 2018-11-02
• Tree of Life – Talking With Our Kids After Acts of Violence and Anti-Semitism bit.ly/2SB3vh3 2018-11-02
• Are You or a Family Member Ditching Dairy? CAUTION! Thurs Time Capsule 10/12 bit.ly/2ql2oFh 2018-11-01
• Data and Resources on Sudden Unexpected Infant Death | Children’s Safety Network bit.ly/2qmeOfV 2018-10-31
• The 7 Best Parenting Books to Buy in 2018 bit.ly/2qmJUUW  2018-10-31
• Decorative Contact Lenses: What Teens and Parents Need to Know bit.ly/2SxJIPy  2018-10-30
• Why I Celebrate My Son’s Autism On Halloween bit.ly/2zbce0d 2018-10-29
• Why I Called Out My Daughter’s Cyberbully bit.ly/2Su68Bg 2018-10-29
• Uncommon Halloween Safety Tips 2018: What EMS Wants You to Know bit.ly/2D8FKs5 2018-10-29

How to Care For Your Child if They Chip a Tooth

Last updated on July 3rd, 2020 at 03:05 pm

As parents, we do our best to care for our children when accidents or injuries occur. In dentistry, one of the most common dental emergencies that family and pediatric dentists see is chipped teeth.

By being prepared and knowing how to handle a chipped tooth, you can ensure your child is well looked after from the moment the injury occurs to when your family finally makes it to see your dentist.

Control Any Bleeding

The mouth bleeds easily and heavily, due to the many blood vessels supplying it. Apply pressure with a clean cloth or sterile gauze (a facial tissue works if you don’t have anything else on hand) to help stop any bleeding that’s occurring.

Look for the Tooth Fragment

If the damage to your child’s tooth is significant, your dentist may be able to bond the broken off portion back into place. The key is to find it quickly and store it properly, so that it doesn’t dry out. Place it in a sealed container and submerge it with milk, contact solution, or if nothing else is available, tap water.

Take note not to scrub the tooth fragment clean, especially if it’s a completely knocked out tooth. Doing so could make it harder for your dentist to put back in place.

See your dentist within the next hour if at all possible. The sooner you seek out care, the more conservative treatment will tend to be.

Baby vs. Permanent Teeth

How your dentist handles treating a chipped tooth will depend on if it’s a baby or adult tooth. Adult teeth need to be treated quickly to avoid permanent nerve damage or deterioration of the compromised enamel. However, baby teeth are typically handled on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the size of the chip, your dentist may only want to monitor the tooth to make sure it doesn’t start to die before it exfoliates (falls out) naturally on its own time. However, larger cracks and chips may require some type of filling or a crown.

Preserve Your Child’s Smile

The health of your child’s teeth plays a direct impact on the development of their adult smile, speech patterns, and even their self-esteem. If your child has chipped a tooth or suffered from a bump to the mouth, see your dentist for a quick exam and X-ray to determine the severity of the trauma.

Are You or a Family Member Ditching Dairy? CAUTION!

Last updated on December 10th, 2018 at 06:31 pm

I once attended a Dairy Forum in Alexandria, Virginia that was all about lactose intolerance. It amazed me to learn how many people avoid dairy products because they think they are lactose intolerant! Before ditching the dairy, consider my caution for you and/or your family, as it can have major nutritional consequences.

When people think of milk and other dairy foods, they think of calcium. But the truth is that milk contains 9 essential nutrients that our bodies need in order to function normally. Of those nine essential nutrients, milk meets at least 20% of your daily value for not only calcium, but vitamin D, riboflavin and phosphorus. That is why the 2015-2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans strongly recommends including servings of fat free or low-fat dairy each day in order to meet your minimum nutrition needs*. Did you know that dairy foods are most Americans primary food source of vitamin D? Much in thanks to the great work by Dr. Michael Holick, we have been learning more and more about the epidemic of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency that is having serious health consequences.

The lack of nutrient information regarding dairy really hit home with me the other day. An amazing, well-respected doctor I work closely with in my practice shared with me that when a patient comes to him with lactose intolerance, he simply tells them to avoid milk and start a calcium supplement. I had to remind him that dairy not only provides so many more nutrients than just calcium, as mentioned above, it also contains naturally occurring ACE inhibitors similar to the same components given in prescriptive form that help regulate blood pressure. That is why the government-backed blood pressure diet, called the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), has encouraged 3 servings of dairy, because it has all 3 of the nutrients of the DASH diet that help regulate blood pressure – calcium, potassium and magnesium. Milk also contains melatonin that helps decrease stress and promotes sleep. (Ever drink a warm glass of milk before bedtime? There’s a reason behind that!) And as if that was not enough, over the last several years there has been a slew of research coming out on the impact of dairy foods in weight management. Hmm…a link between a decrease in dairy foods and obesity? Many say, yes.

Growing up, our favorite mealtime beverage was milk. I grew up in a combined family of 6 children (think Brady Bunch, and I was “Cindy” — the youngest) and my mother reports that we went through 5-7 gallons of milk every week! I drank milk with every meal and so did all my siblings. But I remember very well that when I was around 17 or 18 years of age, milk and I started having problems. Within 2-3 hours of drinking milk, I would have bad stomach pain, bloating and eventually gas that was very characteristic of lactose intolerance. Oh, the shame as a teenage female! The very easy thing to do was just eliminate dairy to avoid the very embarrassing consequences. But as I fell in love with nutrition in the 90’s, I learned that this move was costing me dearly and as a result, negatively impacted my nutrition status. Now, I am enjoying dairy again and that has helped me be a positive role model for my young children.

So, the question for you is – have you or a loved one ditched dairy for the same reason I did as a teenager? If so:

1. Get Diagnosed. Don’t self-diagnose like I did because it could be something other than lactose intolerance. All that rumbles is not lactose intolerance! A proper diagnosis is done via a hydrogen breath test and it is covered under most insurance plans. Keep in mind that lactose intolerance is very different than a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance involves the lack of an enzyme that helps digest the milk carbohydrate, lactose. Milk allergy, or milk-protein intolerance, is mostly found in young children, and involves an immune reaction to the milk protein. If you or your child has a milk allergy, it is highly recommended that you see a Registered Dietitian for nutrition guidance. In this case, complete elimination of dairy components is necessary due to possible dangerous allergic reactions. The good news is that most children outgrow milk allergy by the time they are 3 years of age. It is rare that a person continues the allergy into adulthood. If they do, there are actually immunologists that can do milk challenges that will decrease or even eliminate the milk allergy altogether.

2. Work it in. Most people with lactose intolerance can tolerate small amounts of milk at a time and most can eat yogurt and cheese without the negative side effects. At your local grocery store, there are lactose-free milk products of varying brands – Lactaid®, Dairy Ease® and even store brands now. Lactaid® even has an organic version of lactose-free milk for those that prefer organic varieties. There are even over the counter oral lactase enzyme pills that a person can take prior to the ingestion of dairy. The National Dairy Council has great educational resources to help you find ways to get dairy in even when you have lactose intolerance.

3. Seek a Registered Dietitian (RD). Anytime you are thinking of eliminating an entire food group, it is highly recommended that you meet with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in your area to develop a plan for you. You may not realize what key nutrients you are eliminating from your diet that may be compromising your health. As an RD myself, I am very sensitive to the food desires of my patients. If eliminating dairy or other foods are simply a personal preference, we will honor that and can ultimately work within your desires to put together an alternate nutrition plan that will meet all your needs.

Get the facts when it comes to nutrition. Even if it’s written, it doesn’t always make it factual. And we all come with our own nutrition biases, so ask questions about those biases that may have been handed down from generation to generation. Are they really true? As in lactose intolerance for instance, many African American families avoid milk altogether because they already assume it will be a problem. Lactose intolerance in African Americans is grossly overstated, and teaching your children to avoid dairy can have lasting consequences for for them and you. Proper diagnosis and learning ways to get dairy foods in can be the best move for your family. What is your nutrition bias? Dairy or otherwise, ask the questions and get accurate answers. You owe it to yourself and you also owe it to your family.

Editor’s Note:  all links have been updated to reflect the most current information available. 

• According to the 2015-2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the recommended amounts of dairy in the Healthy U.S.-Style Pattern are based on age rather than calorie level and are:
  • 2 cup-equivalents per day for children ages 2 to 3 years,
  • 2½ cup-equivalents per day for children ages 4 to 8 years, and
  • 3 cup-equivalents per day for adolescents ages 9 to 18 years and for adults.

Child Health & Safety News 10/29: US Childcare Nearing $10k/Yr

Last updated on July 3rd, 2020 at 03:06 pm

In this week’s Child Health News: Google Is Teaching Children How to Act Online. Is It the Best Role Model? nyti.ms/2ApYp00

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 social media to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we overlook something, but overall we think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. Still, quite a bit happens every day – so to make sure you don’t miss anything, we offer you a recap of this week’s top 20 events & stories.

• Establish Rules That Will Help Your Child Become a Responsible Adult bit.ly/2SkgfIJ 2018-10-28
• Parents learning SIDS prevention for free thanks to Central Texas EMS agencies bit.ly/2CKiOOH 2018-10-28
• Air pollution is the ‘new tobacco’, warns WHO head. And children and babies developing bodies are at greatest risk. http://bit.ly/2Pp3iyv 2018-10-27
• Halloween costume tips to keep kids safe from the American Academy of Pediatrics bit.ly/2qfHaIA 2018-10-27
• Study sheds light on sextortion, fastest-growing form of teen cyberbullying – The Daily Cardinal bit.ly/2Q1FD4u 2018-10-27
• First study of its kind identifies differences in pediatric mortality after motor vehicle collisions bit.ly/2D4oLaj The goal: to determine if changes to medical services can impact outcomes 2018-10-26
• Adenovirus Outbreak Leaves 6 Children Dead at N.J. Pediatric Center nyti.ms/2D0Umd7 2018-10-26

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Headline of the Week
Child-care costs in America are getting close to $10,000 per year https://on.mktw.net/2zdAhvF 

• Check out our latest issue of our Kids Who Care newsletter, “Compassion Through Creativity” getrevue.co/profile/pediat… (via @revue) 2018-10-26
• Why Your Kid’s Daydreaming is Not All Bad bit.ly/2z2wsJs 2018-10-25
• Kids don’t need a cellphone; they need a digital diet! A media diet is just like a regular diet. If you’re not consistent in the first few weeks and months, you will fail bit.ly/2D20AJC  2018-10-25
• How to Talk to Your Kids About…Difficult Subjects – Thurs Time Capsule 10/12 bit.ly/2Aq4MjV  2018-10-25
• 4 Things Your Toddler Should be Learning at Daycare bit.ly/2z3CMjV 2018-10-24
• It’s Not Always Postpartum: The Truth About Prenatal Depression bit.ly/2D2UpoH  2018-10-24
• Halloween oral health tips bit.ly/2R4Y5sM 2018-10-24
• Goosebumps 2: is Sensory Friendly Twice at AMC (10/13 & 10/27) zpr.io/6FWst 2018-10-24
• Pediatric research: Scientists developing probiotic biofilms to help smallest preemies bit.ly/2R7v27Z 2018-10-23
• Don’t ignore incest: advice from an incest survivor bit.ly/2yTMxkH 2018-10-23
• Study says working on your ‘dad bod’ before fatherhood can help your future kids’ health bit.ly/2S3Sk01 2018-10-23
• The Techniques of a Predator Part 1: Trust and Romance bit.ly/2NQigch 2018-10-22

Child Health & Safety News 10/22: Polio-like Illness Paralyzing Kids

Last updated on July 3rd, 2020 at 03:06 pm

In this week’s Child Health News: Therapy Dogs May Help Kids With ADHD, Study Suggests u.org/2PjCMTo

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 social media to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we overlook something, but overall we think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. Still, quite a bit happens every day – so to make sure you don’t miss anything, we offer you a recap of this week’s top 20 events & stories.

• Safe Kids – Halloween Safety bit.ly/2q0UGQo 2018-10-21
• Avoid Making Discipline Mistakes That Make Behavior Problems Worse bit.ly/2NUa8HL 2018-10-21
• In Syria, A School Helps Children Traumatized By War – Budget cuts mean funds will dry up in January n.pr/2S7Cstb  2018-10-21
• The Problem With the ‘Gifted’ Child Diagnosis bit.ly/2z19ym7 2018-10-21
• Water wars: The ‘cult-like’ efforts to get fluoride out of America’s drinking supply nbcnews.to/2J7Qmrv 2018-10-19

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Headline of the Week
‘Polio-like’ illness paralyzing children remains ‘mystery’ to health officials as CDC
confirms cases in 22 states fxn.ws/2R0hbAi

• Number of Children Missing Critical Vaccines Continues to Rise bit.ly/2QYU3Co First case of flu-related pediatric death in unvaccinated child comes as CDC issues reports on overall vaccination coverage 2018-10-19
• How Can a Cookie Teach My Child to be Calm? bit.ly/2CU1KH1  2018-10-19
• Electric cars let kids drive themselves from the ward to the operating theater to make surgery less scary cnn.it/2J6XB2w 2018-10-18
• Should Kids “Motor Mouth”? (do they need an electric toothbrush?) Thurs Time Capsule 10/12 bit.ly/2J409yv 2018-10-18
• Webinar: Are You Concerned About Your Child’s Irritability? bit.ly/2Oyk9PZ November 7th – hosted by the NIH 2018-10-18
• 6 Simple Ways to Ease Children’s Fears at the Doctor bit.ly/2Aeas00 2018-10-17
• Caring for child refugees: 4 things you need to know bit.ly/2J0JEmV 2018-10-17
• Sidelined children’s health official says EPA inaction means “kids are disposable” cbsn.ws/2ChvAnD  2018-10-16
• England falling behind peers on child health – bit.ly/2RNiHqK 2018-10-15
• A Family Home Fire Drill is For ALL Ages bit.ly/2OrifQY 2018-10-15
• What to Do if Your Child Is Scared of Halloween bit.ly/2CMGyCK 2018-10-15
• Collaborative aims to accelerate immunotherapy development for pediatric cancers bit.ly/2RKSmcW 2018-10-15
• When Should I Get My Child a Dog…and What Should We Get??  With updated recommendations from our Kids & Canines Expert… bit.ly/2EmaMy9 2018-10-15

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