Kids Health Archives - The Motherly Heap

Keeping the Family Healthy This Time Around

Jordan N. — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 01:58:42 +0000

The fall season has arrived in the US, and the weather is already changing in other parts. Unfortunately, as the cold air starts to dance in the breeze, germs are also trailing behind. So keeping the whole family healthy is going to be a huge priority for parents. Parenthood comes with responsibilities, especially the health of the entire family. Plus trying to navigate between home, work, and school – becomes one whole pit of chaos. It can get serious around pretty quickly. Parents gear up to face yet another season with viruses coming around. Of course, we all know Colds, Flu, and RSV(Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are the most popular ones. However, the Covid-19 is continually rampaging across the US and worldwide. Parents prioritize the overall health of each family member, including physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects. With all the health protocols in place, health information and guidelines updated every single day – these can feel overwhelming to you. Yet, it doesn’t have to be. Parents can take steps to educate, understand health information and take action towards the best interests of the family. And so, we still need to remember these simple yet effective ways to keep our family unit safe at this time of the season. Keeping the Family Healthy with These Simple Habits and Health Tips Washing Hands The number one method you can do to prevent spreading the germs in the house or out is regularly washing hands. Little ones are notorious for picking things around the house and touching their faces, eyes, noses, and mouth. I think most babies and younger kids represent these groups; my kids aren’t exempted. Encourage your kids as early as possible to begin and practice this healthy habit of cleaning hands. Make it a fun activity, especially for little ones. For example, you are teaching them how to wash their hands while singing a favorite tune. “This is the Way song….” You can repeat it when the children aren’t done with washing their hands. This song segment takes about twenty seconds when sang twice, for which time we need to be washing our hands thoroughly. “This is the way I wash my handsWash my hands, wash my handsYes, This is the way I wash my handsTo keep the germs away, to keep the germs away.” Quick Steps in Proper Hand Washing: Wet hands with running water Use soap to lather the hands Scrub hands facing each other, between the fingers by interlacing them, rub the back of both hands, and up to the wrist area. (making sure all areas are cleaned). Rinse entire hands/wrist with running water Dry off hands with a clean towel The next best thing to washing hands is using a Hand Sanitizer. Unfortunately, there was a limited supply of these hand sanitizers for some time, and people were making their own at home. Consider the concentration of the ingredients you are using to create a homemade hand sanitizer. Then, follow a reliable resource in getting the correct recipe for effective hand sanitizers. Good thing, now, there is an abundance of hand sanitizer you can buy in stores or order online. Covering when Coughing and Sneezing Continue to remind children to cover their mouth and nose and turn away when they feel a sneeze or cough coming on. Showing them how to cover with their arm sleeves or grab a tissue nearby to cover their coughs and sneezes is an excellent habit to practice. Help contain the germs to an area and not spread them when you or your child cough or sneeze. Saying bye to the dirty tissue and emptying the trash To prevent spreading the germs is to keep contaminated items away. A quick reminder to everyone in the house is to throw away the used tissue for sneezing or coughing immediately. Additionally, don’t wait when the trash is full and overflowing. When it’s ¾ full, it’s time to dump it into the collector garbage bin. Choosing Healthy Food and Drinks When it comes to the health of the family, food choices need to be reevaluated. Choosing an immune-boosting food category is a great way to add to the existing meal plans. Prompt the children to eat immune-boosting food and present them with several choices. It can become tricky when children refuse the type of food. Introduce them early to a variety of selections. Giving options and creatively presenting the food are effective ways to assist children in trying new and unfamiliar healthy food. Parents can also easily add them to soup, main dishes, and other homemade juice blends for the whole family. Provided food allergies are taken into account. Food That May Help Boost Immunity: BerriesCitrusOrangesApplesPears SpinachBroccoliBell PepperDark Leafy GreensGarlic and Turmeric So, staying healthy means eating the right food to fight off viruses, bacteria, and others, plus helping raise your immunity for the protection that your body needs. We may not prevent them from attacking us, but we can keep ourselves and our children’s immune systems ready to fight them off. You can learn more about eating immune-boosting food here. Vitamins and Other Nutrients We can find vitamins and other nutrients in the food we eat every day. When you and your family eat a variety of healthy food (balanced meals) daily, you are consuming the much-needed vitamins and nutrients to stay well and fight off germs when sick. However, there can be challenges for children and their health circumstances that make a healthy intake of these vitamins not possible. That’s when parents can introduce vitamin supplements with the guidance of their healthcare provider. Add in Vitamin D and Vitamin C to the supplement list to fight off illness this cold and flu season. Make sure to check the recommended dosages for you and your children. It’s a good reminder to ask for recommendations from the health experts and do your thorough research when it comes to supplements before starting them on your children and make that decision. Get Everyone Moving Encourage everyone, including your children, to engage in activities to help boost the immune system. You can go for a refreshing nature walk, jump roping, swimming, biking, or stretching with yoga. Then, pick the family activities that get your heart pumping and make it fun for everyone. You can achieve an active lifestyle at home when everyone’s determined and motivated. Save the dates on your family calendar for a 50-minute exercise routine three times a week. Or aim for 30 minutes daily active movement five times a week. When you exercise together, it also fosters family bonding, improves overall mood and happiness while keeping everyone healthy and strong. Get More Sleep Hours Keep the bedtime routines simple for children. Have a quiet time in the evening for everyone, including you, to wind down and get ready for bed. Getting adequate sleep helps our immune system because our bodies repair and recharge the whole system when we sleep. Make sleep a priority in the household. Up-to-date Vaccines Babies get vaccinated when a couple of months after birth. After that, young children get their scheduled vaccinations based on health recommendations. Prevention is always better than treatment. As parents, we don’t want our children getting sick with diseases that we can easily prevent. Keep track of your child’s doctor appointments. Although not all illnesses are preventable, getting vaccinated may lessen diseases’ effects on anyone’s body or complications thwarted when vaccines are received. Parents keep the entire household healthy by doing what they think is suitable for their children and the community. Take charge in preventing the spread of germs not just in your family but also in the community. Stay current with the health recommendations for yourself and your entire family to keep the germs at bay. RELATED POST: The Doctor Visits Your Child Will Encounter Before Entering Kindergarten Staying away when sick If someone comes home with a bug, the first instinct for parents is to isolate the sick child and tend to their needs separately. This way, the germs are contained only to that particular child. However, it may be impossible to isolate the sick child from the other member in some instances. Therefore, following healthy steps in preventing germs by washing hands, using proper health etiquette, and staying away as much as the family members can from the sick . When you’re sick, it’s hard to isolate yourself from your children, especially if no one can tend to them at home. Take care of your health needs and ask for help from other family members, relatives, or friends. It may also not be possible for someone to take the children away for the time being, especially if you have little ones. It’s tough to get everyone on the schedule when someone is sick, be prepared to change some routines, and find other ways to entertain the children. The goal is to get you to recover as quickly and as rested as you need to be. Listen to your own body. When you’re sick, it’s a challenging situation because children depend on you to care for their needs. So do what you can and ask for help. Mask up and Keep Social Distance When out and about, follow health protocols when going out to shop or be around community areas. Not everyone will follow these health guidelines, and we hear and see that in the news. Wear your masks everywhere you go. Be cautious in all your community activities. Do your part in helping your community to stop the spread of germs. When you know you are sick, stay home. When you know your children are sick, keep them from school. Each family’s circumstances are different. Unfortunately, you may not have a choice to care for yourself or your sick children while working outside the home. You aren’t allowed to show up at work when you’re ill. Or your children who appear sick or having symptoms may be sent home from the school clinic. Have a contingency plan when this happens. The bottom line, with this covid-19 pandemic, we need to do our best to prevent the spread of the virus while also keeping a roof under our heads. Stocking up with the cleaning essentials and disinfecting items. House cleaning and maintenance are part of keeping the whole family in good health. When the environment around you is clean, you’re less likely to harbor germs that make everyone sick. Keep a stock of the needed disinfecting items and cleaning supplies to keep the entire household clean and sanitized. Even before Covid-19, parents are already disinfecting the frequently touched surfaces and objects at home as they go about their day. Staying Healthy while Keeping the Whole Family Safe Having a choice to do what’s right and what’s important to keep everyone safe at home is the responsibility of every parent. Keep in mind that you are responsible for your family unit as well as being a part of the community. When the whole family practices healthy habits and follows health tips- it helps keep the germs at arm’s length. Without anyone getting sick, the family routine stays intact. Now, taking an active stance on health will benefit the whole family. In addition, staying well by eating the right food choices boost immunity for everyone at home. By masking up, staying away from other people, and getting vaccinated as suggested, we may do our part to help and not add to what is currently happening around us. It’s your right as a parent to protect your children and yourself. And, as members of society, we also have a community responsibility to protect others. As everyone continues to push through this challenging year, we are looking forward to getting past it. But, with that, we all want our family to be safe and healthy, so let’s do our part in keeping everyone strong, well, and protected. ** The information included in this article is for general purpose use only. It does not substitute medical advice. Please directly...

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The Doctor Visits Your Child Will Encounter Before Entering Kindergarten

Jordan N. — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 17:19:36 +0000

Children need a regular wellness check-up at least once a year. You can arrange all the doctor visits for your child ahead of time because the clinics’ schedules can quickly fill. Also, parents can schedule appointments with other doctors that their child will need to see about their eyes, dental, or specific health issues. These check-ups are aimed to make sure your child’s growth, development, and health are evaluated. When a child enters Kindergarten in the U.S., the school may also require documentation of a vision screening, dental visit, or hearing exam. Kindergarten program requirements vary in every state. Therefore, verify with your child’s school or school district for more necessary required information. Parents can request a proper health assessment for their children before starting school and getting their children’s immunizations up-to-date. Why do your child need doctor visits? Having your child evaluated by the doctor can help pinpoint developmental delays, aid in getting early interventions for diagnosed health issues, and ascertain your child is healthy. It can also create a solid foundation of health baseline for your child’s wellness. Learning is contingent on your child’s vision, hearing, and oral health. Your child may need corrective eyeglasses to help to identify learning materials. Your child may need dental interventions for proper teeth development and structures. Teeth braces, retainers, and teeth filling. Adjusting to these health plans can affect them tremendously. Hearing is paramount to a child’s learning. Children learn through listening and hearing sounds. In addition, there’s an interlink between hearing and children’s speech development. Listening skills for children help them learn to write, read and even improve social skills. Who are the Healthcare Providers that Your Child Needs to See? Eye Doctor The eye doctor (optometrist) will examine your child’s eye health at this visit. Eye check-up schedules recommended by American Optometric Association start at six months of age to a year for eye health baseline assessment in low-risk young children. The second visit happens when your child turns three years old – 5 years old. Third eye doctor visit occurs at age six years old. Then yearly after that. If your child is categorized as High-Risk for Eye Health Issues, you are encouraged to follow the above schedule plus the recommendations of the eye doctors for close follow-ups. These eye health assessments are performed to ensure proper eye development is noted, vision problems are identified, early diagnosis of eye issues and treatment plans, and to ensure your child’s learning will be optimum. The eye doctor will dilate your child’s pupils using a medicated eye drop to see the overall eye health and structures. Another eye doctor who checks eye health for high-risk young children is an ophthalmologist. These children are seen and monitored closely with frequent appointments in addition to the regular schedule. When children fall under the high-risk category, it means they have a significant risk for eye or vision issues. Such risk factors can include: Prematurity, Long-term supplemental oxygen use in the NICU Babies with Low Birth Weight Pregnancy complications of the mother Moms who had difficult labor or assisted labor Familial history of eye disorders Any visual impairments Vision is only on one eye Previous eye surgery/injury And other eye health problems These children are given a more comprehensive eye check-up and a thorough eye care plan. Parents are encouraged to keep these eye doctor visits for proper monitoring of children’s eye health. With my preemie daughter, we visit her eye doctor to monitor her eyes and vision regularly. The same doctor performed retinopathy of prematurity exam before leaving the NICU and succeeding follow-up visits afterward. Dentist Oral care and health are essential for your child’s growth and development—time for the dental check-up. What age does your child need to see the dentist, and how often are the visits? Based on the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommendations, your child needs to make the first dental visit around age one to establish a foundation for their dental care. Also, the AAPD recommends a check-up every six months to check dental health, prevent cavities and other dental problems. Your child’s pediatric dentist will recommend how often and what dental follow-up schedule is based on your child’s oral health. When your child is around three-four years old, oral health habits are starting to form. Visiting the dentist can help promote good oral hygiene through healthy routine check-ups and dental recommendations. Why do your child’s teeth need to be assessed before school? Your child’s oral health is significantly linked to overall health and growth. Cavities can appear as early as two years of age. Preventive oral care is a key to keeping your child’s dental health good. Schools often note that children with poor dental hygiene or teeth cavities have more absences than their peers with regular dental care. Plenty of school-age children missed school due to high dental-related illnesses. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2000. “The consequences of poor oral health have a negative influence on children’s speech, growth, function, education, and social development.” Tips for Parents to Keep-up with Children’s Oral Health Have your child brush their teeth twice daily. 2. Choose a toothpaste with added fluoride. 3. Floss regularly. 4. Keep up with every dental check-up (twice a year) unless otherwise recommended by the dentist. 5. Contact your child’s dentist for any oral illness/injuries. 6. Read books about dental hygiene with your child. (Recommended book list at the end of this post.) Primary Care Doctor Parents bring their children to see the pediatrician for wellness appointments and sick visits. The doctor will examine your child: a complete review of any developmental achievement/delay, growth charts, and immunization schedule. Then, you can expect a routine physical evaluation in this visit. In addition, assessing your child’s motor, language, cognitive, and personal skills is performed accordingly. These exams are crucial and completed to make sure your child is prepared to enter Kindergarten. During this visit, the clinic may perform a hearing test and a quick eye reading exam. The clinic nurse will perform these tests on/with your child. Evaluating each eye equally, the clinic nurse will use those tiny chart symbols (♥, +, o, and others) and use a spoon-like vision covering tool. It’s good to tell your child what expected tests she may encounter in this check-up. However, most times, children also get anxious when they go to the doctor’s clinic. By letting children know ahead of time what to expect, it helps alleviate those worries and fears. Other Specialists These other specialists consist of medical or other healthcare providers that see your child on an annual or regular basis. Several children may not need other doctor visits before entering Kindergarten; however, it’s good to see these other doctors/specialists for your child. For instance, if your child has asthma and has a lung specialist managing their care, it is appropriate to have a visit before entering school. With that in mind, you will also need the doctor to fill out the Asthma Action Plan for the school clinic. This Asthma Action Plan is a health form primarily used by school clinics to help assist and manage any child’s asthma disorder. It tells the school nurse what medication, dose, and frequency of your child’s prescribed inhalers. This health form also includes your child’s triggers, their best peak flow reading, symptoms to watch out for, what to do in case of emergency and information about their doctor. The school nurse or school website will have a downloadable link for this health form. However, if you don’t have it – you can also download this Asthma Action Plan from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The lung specialist will fill it out, sign the form, and then you can bring it to your child’s school clinic. Health Evaluation of your child is important before entering school through these doctor visits. Health assessment is vital to maintain your child’s overall health through check-ups and fulfill any particular school requirements for Kindergarten. Being proactive about your child’s health helps lessen the stress of having to scramble around nearing the beginning of the school year. Also, maintaining these doctor visits can help your child keep up with recommended immunizations, address health concerns and evaluate their growth and development. Setting up appointments for your child’s check-up can also be overwhelming when a clinic has fully booked days. So, make sure to plan ahead of time. Advocating for your child’s health is one of the many responsibilities that you have as a parent. Bringing your child to the doctor’s clinic for a visit will show your child that health is essential. It’s also a great way to build a parent-doctor connection for the proper health management of your child. Ensuring good, timely doctor visits for your child can aid in attaining better health, learning optimized, and getting ready for Kindergarten. Related Post You Might be Interested: Kindergarten Readiness **As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my product links, I may be eligible for a commission at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure here. What are other doctor appointments that you think need to be included before entering school? Let me know in the comments. Also, feel free to email this article to families and friends you know with a child entering Kindergarten. Thank you for all your continued support of The Motherly Heap. I truly appreciate that you take the time to read and share. Pin it for your reference later.

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