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Summer and Beyond: How to Get Your Special Needs Child To Read

Last updated on July 3rd, 2020 at 03:08 pm

Many schools have started assigning Summer Reading to keep kids in good habits and also to avoid the dreaded summer brain drain, where they lose some of the skills learned during the academic year due to lack of practice. Sometimes the reading assignment can be fun, like a competition to see who reads the most pages or books or minutes. Sometimes it can be a straight assignment like a project or a report. But even if your school doesn’t specifically assign any reading, it’s a good idea to encourage your kids to keep reading all summer long.

I know many kids with special needs or learning challenges absolutely hate reading. It is truly unpleasant for them, so who can blame them? For now there are other ways to make books appealing. When my kids were little we used them to play games like The Floor is Lava and Dominoes. Then I read the books to them after play time. Reading to your child is important even if you think they are “too old” for it – they are not. Something as simple as “Hey, this is interesting, listen…” may get them motivated to explore (or listen) further.

Ideas to keep kids reading – or get them reading

  • Let them read whatever they want – manga, movie novelizations, comic books all count. I even let my daughter read a toy catalogue once because it was the only thing that motivated her.
  • Let your child be your tour guide. This works on vacation or locally. Let them do research on a location that interests them and pick out some place to visit. This also works with restaurants and reading menus.
  • Take them to the library. Check your local locations for puppet shows, clubs or events…and hey, look, there are lots of books, too! Maybe one will catch their eye. Again, let them choose. You may not want to read a novel with a gory zombie on the cover but if it gets them interested, so be it.
  • Bring books to places where you will be waiting, like doctors and dentists appointments. Put baskets of them in the bathroom.
  • Audio books can also help kids with visual processing and other challenges. Many are free online through your local library or other sites – just do a quick search.
  • Who are your child’s heroes? There are biographies on every historical figure, sports star and celebrity.
  • Yes, it’s okay to let them reread Harry Potter again – as long as you get them thinking about what they noticed this time that they never did before.

Another way to get kids with special needs or challenges interested in a book is if the story is about a kid with challenges. Students will recognize their own struggles and situations and pick up some new strategies. Feel free to read the books yourself – grownups may learn some of the clever ways these kids avoid work and play their teachers.

Here are some reading suggestions about children with special needs for teens. Ask a bookstore employee, teacher or librarian for other suggestions.

  • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper features a girl with cerebral palsy
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt follows a girl and her older brother as they discover they have dyslexia
  • El Deafo by Cece Bell, a graphic novel about a girl with a clunky hearing aid

Have you or your child read a great book lately? Let us know about it!

 

July 9, 2018 | Filed Under Community | 1 Comment 

How to Recognize Anxiety and Help Your Anxious Child

Last updated on July 15th, 2018 at 07:24 pm

Just like adults, children and young people feel worried and anxious at times.

But if your child’s anxiety is starting to affect their wellbeing, they may need some help to overcome it.

What makes children anxious?

Children tend to feel anxious about different things at different ages. Many of these worries are a normal part of growing up.

  • From about eight months to three years, for example, it’s very common for young children to have something called separation anxiety. They may become clingy and cry when separated from their parents or carers. This is a normal stage in children’s development and tends to ease off at around age two to three.
  • It’s also common for pre-school children to develop specific fears or phobias. Common fears in early childhood include animals, insects, storms, heights, water, blood, and the dark. These fears usually go away gradually on their own.

Throughout a child’s life there will be other times when they feel anxiety. Lots of children feel anxious when going to a new school, for example, or before tests and exams. Some children feel shy in social situations and may need support with this.

When is anxiety a problem for children?

Anxiety becomes a problem for children when it starts to get in the way of their day-to-day life.

“We all get anxious at times, but some children seem to live a life of anxiety, where it’s not short-term and it’s not just an occasional thing,” says Paul Stallard, Professor of Child and Family Mental Health at the University of Bath.

“For example, if you go into any school at exam time all the kids will be anxious but some may be so anxious that they don’t get into school that morning,” says Professor Stallard.

Severe anxiety like this can harm children’s mental and emotional wellbeing, affecting their self-esteem and confidence. They may become withdrawn and go to great lengths to avoid things or situations that make them feel anxious.

What are the signs of anxiety in children?

When young children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling. You may notice that they:

  • become irritable, tearful or clingy
  • have difficulty sleeping
  • wake in the night
  • start wetting the bed
  • have bad dreams

In older children you may notice that they:

  • lack the confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges
  • find it hard to concentrate
  • have problems with sleeping or eating
  • are prone to angry outbursts
  • have negative thoughts going round and round their head, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen
  • start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public or attending school

See more about the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Why is my child anxious?

Some children are more prone to worries and anxiety than others.

  • Children often find change difficult and may become anxious following a house move or when starting a new school.
  • Children who have had a distressing or traumatic experience, such as a car accident or house fire, may suffer with anxiety afterwards.
  • Family arguments and conflict can also leave children feeling insecure and anxious.
  • Teenagers are more likely to suffer with social anxiety than other age groups, avoiding social gatherings or making excuses to get out of them.

Read more about social anxiety.

How to help your anxious child

If a child is experiencing anxiety, there is plenty parents and carers (*caregivers) can do to help.

  • First and foremost, it’s important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries. Reassure them and show them you understand how they feel.
  • If your child is old enough, it may help to explain what anxiety is and the physical effects it has on our bodies. It may be helpful to describe anxiety as being like a wave that builds up and then ebbs away again.

As well as talking to your child about their worries and anxieties, it’s important to help them find solutions, says Professor Stallard.

  • “The tendency is to say, if you’re worried about that sleepover, don’t go,” he says. “But what you’re doing is saying, if you get anxious about something, it means you can’t do it.
  • “It’s more helpful to say, ‘I hear that you’re worried about this. What can you do that’s going to help?’,” says Professor Stallard. “Focus on exploring solutions with your child, instead of just talking about all the things that could go wrong.”

Other ways to ease anxiety in children

  • Teach your child to recognise signs of anxiety in themselves and to ask for help when it strikes.
  • Children of all ages find routines reassuring so try to stick to regular daily routines where possible.
  • If your child is anxious because of distressing events, such as a bereavement or separation, see if you can find books or films that will help them understand their feelings.
  • If you know a change, such as a house move is coming up, prepare your child by talking to them about what is going to happen and why.
  • Try not to become anxious yourself or overprotective – rather than doing things for your child or helping them to avoid anxiety-provoking situations, encourage your child to find ways to manage them.
  • Practice simple relaxation techniques with your child, such as taking three deep, slow breaths, breathing in for a count of three and out for three. You’ll find more relaxation techniques for children on the Moodcafe website.
  • Distraction can be helpful for young children. For example, if they are anxious about going to nursery, play games on the way there, such as seeing who can spot the most red cars.
  • Turn an old tissue box into a “worry” box. Get your child to write down or draw their worries and post them into the box. Then you can sort through the box together at the end of the day or week.

When should we get help?

If your child’s anxiety is severe, persists and interferes with their everyday life, it’s a good idea to get some help.

  • A visit to your GP (doctor) is a good place to start. If your child’s anxiety is affecting their school life, it’s a good idea to talk to their school as well.
  • Parents and carers in the UK** can get help and advice around children’s mental health from Young Minds’ free parent helpline on 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am-4pm).

Read more about treating childhood anxiety.

Editor’s Note:  

* Clarification Provided for our U.S. Readers

** Resources Outside the UK:

  • Child Mind Institute: an independent, US nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders
  • Association for Children’s Mental Health: ACMH provides information, support, resources, referral and advocacy for children and youth with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and their families.

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July 6, 2018 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

Child Health & Safety News 7/2: Should Kids Be Polite to Alexa?

Last updated on July 3rd, 2020 at 03:08 pm

twitter thumbIn this week’s Child Health News: If Your Kid Ingests A Button Battery, Call 911. Then Do This!  bit.ly/2MVRtvA 

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 25 events & stories.

  • Pinned down: A story of restraining an autistic child and the marks it leaves behind bit.ly/2IIP2ZZ 2018-7-01
  • What steps can you take to protect your child from a would-be abductor cin.ci/2lHPnDo 2018-7-01
  • Nearly Half of Canada’s Very Young Children Live in Child Care ‘Deserts’ glblctzn.me/2tKZWd6 2018-7-01
  • How to Exercise With Your Kids bit.ly/2IG3fHa Here are some ideas to get you started 2018-6-30
  • Fireworks Safety bit.ly/2KzVQy4 2018-6-30
  • The Difference Between ADHD and Autism u.org/2IBz1oO by Understood.org 2018-6-30

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Top Headline of the Week
The case against teaching kids to be polite to Alexa  bit.ly/2MBgFGZ

  • Toy car therapy helps pediatric patients recover fcnews.tv/2tOjRHp 2018-6-29
  • Please realize the importance of your Digital Footprint! bit.ly/2IC4A1F  2018-6-29
  • Getting Your Child to Talk to you About What They see Online bit.ly/2llAhDm 2018-6-29
  • An EMT Shared an Important Car Seat Hack to Keep Kids Safe in an Emergency bit.ly/2lBFLdf 2018-6-29
  • Check out our latest issue of our Kids Who Care newsletter – Issue #10: A Future of Compassion getrevue.co/profile/pediat… 2018-6-29
  • 6 Mothers Explain How They’re Raising Feminist Sons bit.ly/2lGbw4W 2018-6-28
  • Tickling Your Toddler Might Actually Be Harmful bit.ly/2Kd0vXs  2018-6-28
  • The Importance of Teaching Kids to Use 911 – Thurs Time Capsule – 07/10 bit.ly/2KbTl5T 2018-6-28
  • Latest in health news: Pediatric antibiotic usage decreases, autism diagnoses increase bit.ly/2lz8uPZ 2018-6-27
  • My Twins are Behind in Talking…How Can I Help? bit.ly/2Mma6rq  2018-6-27

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News #2 Headline of the Week
Child homelessness in England is at its highest since the global financial crisis   bit.ly/2Ko7Y5Y

  • Kids Are Overdosing on Med Meant to Fight Opioid Addiction bit.ly/2lxEiEL 2018-6-27
  • What to cover during prenatal visit: AAP clinical report offers guidance bit.ly/2lz8nUz  2018-6-26
  • Profit and Complacency: We Make Our Children Vulnerable Online | Turtler bit.ly/2tB08ek 2018-6-26
  • Mind the gap: Navigating the transition from pediatric to adult health care bit.ly/2yDtqyp 2018-6-25
  • Telegram Messenger App Guide for Parents – 8 min video by Josh Ochs bit.ly/2MRCBhY 2018-6-25
  • More than two-thirds of towns and cities in the United Kingdom have unsafe levels of air pollution, resulting in more than 4.5 million children growing up in unsafe conditions, according to new research from UNICEF bit.ly/2Ki2CID 2018-6-25
  • Tomorrow at AMC Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is Sensory Friendly bit.ly/2MvFfKd  2018-6-25
  • Kids and Medication: What Parents Should Know to Avoid Errors bit.ly/2KizRIR 2018-6-25

 

July 3, 2018 | Filed Under Awareness | Leave a Comment 

FAQ You Need to Know About Dental Sealants For Your Child

Last updated on July 15th, 2018 at 07:31 pm

If you’ve brought your child into the dentist’s office for a checkup lately, you might have heard them talk about dental sealants.

Sealants are a protective coating that we place on permanent molars after they erupt, to reduce your child’s risk of tooth decay. Because they cover the deep grooves and crevices of hard-to-clean areas, sealants help children get through the early formative years with fewer cavities.

Does My Child Have to be Numbed?

No. Sealants are not like getting fillings, so there is no numbing or drilling or anything that can be potentially scary to your child. You could describe it as if we’re painting the teeth!

How Long Does it Take to Apply a Sealant?

Not long at all. A sealant can be completed in just a few minutes. In most cases, they’re just added to your child’s routine cleaning and exam appointment.

How Long do Sealants Last?

Sealants aren’t permanent, but they can last for several years or decades. Sometimes, sticky foods such as taffy or caramel can pull them off. The sealants will need to be checked at each of your child’s appointments to see if a touch up or replacement is needed.

Which Teeth Get Sealants?

In most cases, dentists seal the “6 year” and “12 year” molars, which erupt around those ages, respectively. Some children get their teeth sooner or later than others, so there is a little bit of wiggle room. We highly recommend sealing all teeth containing grooves, including front teeth, back teeth, primary teeth, and secondary teeth.

Does Insurance Cover Sealants?

Most dental insurance plans cover sealants at 100% until a child is about 14 years old. This varies from plan to plan. Even if your coverage doesn’t include sealants, they are an affordable investment that can potentially save you hundreds of dollars in dental care in the future.

Which Parts of the Teeth are Sealed?

Sealants only go on the chewing surface of teeth, or sometimes on the cheek-side if there is a pit or groove. They do not protect the areas between teeth, so it is still important to floss your child’s teeth daily.

With prevention focused pediatric dentistry, your child can enjoy healthy teeth for life. Ask your family or pediatric dentist about whether or not your child is ready to get dental sealants.

July 2, 2018 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

Child Health & Safety News 6/25: 2YO Climbs Locked Pool Ladder

Last updated on July 15th, 2018 at 07:32 pm

twitter thumbIn this week’s Child Health News: WHO says ‘gaming disorder’ is a mental health condition cnn.it/2JSj7b0 

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 25 events & stories.

  • Crusader for health of Flint kids keeps up fight to heal lead-poisoned city on.freep.com/2KesuSy 2018-6-24
  • More than 30 children become sick at Cloverleaf 4H summer camp in Lake Placid, FL – none were serious and cause is still unknown. bit.ly/2ltwIuZ 2018-6-24
  • 15 Summer Acts of Kindness for Kids: Ideas for Developing Emotional Intelligence {plus a FREE printable} bit.ly/2KdLvEC 2018-6-24
  • Massachusetts Department of Education, USDA Partner in Local Summer Food Service Program bit.ly/2yw0N6x This summer, they will collaborate with UMass Dining’s BabyBerk food truck to serve healthy meals to children and teens at no charge.  2018-6-24
  • What Causes Iron Deficiency in Your Child – and How to Spot It cle.clinic/2M9YFDa 2018-6-23

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Top Headline of the Week
If you think you’ve child-proofed your swimming pool, you need to watch this.
Video shows 2 year old child climbing locked ladder leading to pool bit.ly/2lolA2v

  • Teenager’s lack of sleep proven to visibly impact their health bit.ly/2toz8hT 2018-6-23
  • 54,000 Volkswagen Atlas SUVs recalled for child safety seat installation problems bit.ly/2loDrGc 2018-6-22
  • Four-legged friend named Huggie helps young patients cope at UC Davis Cancer Center bit.ly/2M9xI2B 2018-6-22
  • A Day in the Life of an Anxious Stepmother bit.ly/2lhQ7yH 2018-6-22
  • Tomorrow morning, AMC Has a Sensory Friendly Screening of Incredibles 2 bit.ly/2JJeXpU
    2018-6-22
  • These photos of the McAllen, TX detention center for unaccompanied immigrant children were an attempt to quiet criticism. They’re doing the opposite bit.ly/2tcGh5F 2018-6-21
  • 10 Healthy Snacks You Can Teach Your Preschooler to Make bit.ly/2K0CzlP 2018-6-21
  • AAP agrees with ending the forced separation of children and parents at the U.S. southern border, but detention facilities are an environment AAP has said is no place for a child. 2018-6-21
  • How have UK Hospitals changed for pediatric patients over the past 70 years? A retrospective… bbc.in/2tgSZ3x 2018-6-21
  • Bad Eating Habits Can Be Broken Thurs Time Capsule 06/10 bit.ly/2JvmS5X  2018-6-21

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News #2 Headline of the Week
UChicago launches test-optional admissions process with expanded financial aid and scholarships.  bit.ly/2yo0hHl The new undergraduate initiative is designed to increase accessibility for first-generation, low-income students

  • New app helps parents with tracking child development bit.ly/2M3CEG8 2018-6-20
  • 8 Sensory-Friendly Indoor Games and Activities u.org/2I2OuxY  2018-6-20
  • The UN is calling for an end to the cruel policy of separating migrant children from their parents & jailing families for crossing the border. The following link is to a petition demanding the administration stop this practice bit.ly/2lhPkOl 2018-6-20
  • How Can I Avoid Food Poisoning During Pregnancy? bit.ly/2JY87Jf 2018-6-20
  • #teenstoo experience sexual harassment bit.ly/2tmc8js 2018-6-19
  • 8 Magical Words Your Children Need to Hear bit.ly/2JMhOhQ guide to helping parents write encouraging letters to their children 2018-6-19
  • This oral hygiene program helps kids undergoing chemotherapy avoid serious infections. bit.ly/2LYM3ii  2018-6-18
  • Compare the Signs: How to Tell a Tantrum From a Meltdown u.org/2t4iHYO 2018-6-18
  • Personal WaterCraft & Kids: How to Make Them Fun AND Safe! bit.ly/2MuDn49 2018-6-18

 

June 26, 2018 | Filed Under Awareness | Leave a Comment 

Kids and Medication: What Parents Should Know to Avoid Errors

Last updated on July 3rd, 2020 at 03:08 pm

Let’s discuss medication use in children because many parents feel that an office visit to the Doctor for their child is not complete without a medication to use regardless of the cause for the visit.

First, many Doctors are getting away from using medications of all kinds for minor illnesses.  Antibiotics are not effective for the most common infections seen in Children, viruses. Typical “cold medicines are found to have side effects:  these  adverse effects include, but are not limited to irritability, loss of appetite,  poor sleep and  restlessness to name a few. Antibiotics are becoming even ineffective against certain bacteria because of over use and development of resistances to those antibiotics.  Those people who may contract an infection for which the choices of antibiotics have become limited potentially pose a problem for every one.

Next a few “rules of the road” when using any medication on children:

  1. Children are not to be considered “ just small adults” when given any medicines- the dosages are calculated differently, they react to medicines in a different way than adults, the illnesses to be treated are not necessarily the same in adults and children, side effects of these medications can appear different in adults and children.  Never look at your child and try to calculate any dosage based on a percentage of your own weight, or any side effects that you may have.
  2. Just because a child has an illness does not mean that “medicine” is necessary.  There are some who reach for the medicine cabinet as soon as their child sneezes or exhibits a runny nose, or cough.  Given what I explained above, this is certainly not necessary and in some cases may make things worse.  Same thing occurs with onset of fever and this has been discussed previously, not all fevers require medication to lower them.
  3. Learn some easy measurements:
  •      1 cc or 1 ml is 1/5 of a teaspoon which is 5ccs
  •      5ccs or one teaspoon is 1/3 of a tablespoon which is 15 cc
  •      30cc is approximately one ounce, and 8 ounces is a cup
  •      1000 cc’s equals one liter or a little more than a quart
  •     16 ounces = 1 pint and 32 ounces = 1 quart
  •      4 quarts = 1 gallon

It is good to know these equivalents but be sure you totally understand the instructions for a medicine before you leave the pharmacy, and be sure the pharmacist has supplied you with the correct measuring utensil.  These can come as accurate little measuring spoons or even syringes measured in cc’s. A kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon is not very accurate and is often not close enough for the required measurement. Ask the pharmacist about this before you leave the pharmacy and don’t use a kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon for your child’s medicine unless they say it will be ok.

  1. When giving your child medication according to a schedule, write the times and dosage down as a reminder and save any dosing instructions until they have completed the entire prescription. If they accidentally miss a dose, in “most cases” (unless these are cardiac meds or similar) it will likely not make a difference, however I recommend checking the dosing instructions just to make sure your doctor has not specified “not to skip a dose” in which case you should probably give the dose when you think of it. If in doubt contact your child’s doctor or the pharmacy.

Your child will be happier and safer if you remember these few things

June 25, 2018 | Filed Under Community | Leave a Comment 

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