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Archive for category: Kids

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Keep Calm and Yoga On – For KIDS!

Guest Blogger Jana Maich, Occupational Therapist

Working as an occupational therapist in pediatrics, I am always on the lookout for simple strategies I can offer to parents and classroom teachers that can be easily be implemented. One of the main difficulties expressed to me by concerned parents or teachers is that a child is having difficulty controlling their activity level, focusing or attending, or controlling emotional outbursts. In other words, a child is having difficulty self-regulating.

What does this mean? Self-regulation is our ability to monitor and control our body’s arousal level (in other words, our level of alertness) in order to remain in an optimal state that is appropriate for the current situation. Self-regulation is critical to being able to attend, focus, and learn (1). When our body’s arousal level gets too “high,” we may feel anxious, nervous, or stressed. When our body’s arousal level gets too “low,” we may feel lethargic, sluggish, or tired. Often unconsciously, adults participate in a variety of self-regulation strategies to remain in an optimum state throughout our day. For example, in a boring meeting where your level of alertness may be “low” you may tap your pencil, shift in your chair, apply pressure to your mouth or chin with your hands, or drink water in order to bring your arousal level up. After an intense day of work when you may be feeling too “high” you may take a bath, read a book, or participate in some other sort of relaxation promoting activity (1). There are many ways to regulate ourselves, and just as adults require self-regulation strategies, children do too. Yet, in today’s changing and fast-passed society, children are more stressed than ever before. School demands have increased, daily schedules are jam-packed, and they don’t have as much play or “down” time as kids once did. Unfortunately, unstructured play activities that are critical to a child’s innate self-regulation needs have been replaced by TV and electronics. All of this has ultimately stressed our young generations, resulting in disrupted self-regulation.

Yoga is one activity that has become recognized as a suitable and helpful regulation activity – for people of all ages. (2). For children, yoga offers many potential benefits – both physically and emotionally. Benefits include improved postural control, immune functioning, body awareness, strength and flexibility, emotional control, attention, sleep, and a decrease in stress and anxiety. Yoga is a simple strategy with a variety of exercises that can be completed anywhere including at home, when on vacation, while lying in bed, or as a group in the classroom. Depending on the current needs of the child, there are various poses and breathing exercises designed to bring arousal levels up or down as appropriate. Over time, children begin to develop an enhanced mind-body connection and an improved ability to monitor and manage their own levels of arousal (2).

In my personal experience, using simple breathing strategies and poses in my practice, has demonstrated firsthand how yoga can positively affect children with both physical and mental disabilities including autism, ADHD, emotional difficulties, mental health conditions, and motor coordination difficulties. In older children, learning how to control their own emotions and arousal levels empowers them and creates both self-esteem and self-control.

So what are you waiting for? Search out local yoga programs for you or your child. Try these links: www.yoga4classrooms.com or www.childlightyoga.com. Consider that many places will let you try a class without a commitment, or offer great starter incentives. Or, buy a CD or DVD or check out some poses and breathing exercises via online videos to see if this might work for you or your family.

Check out some of our other resources and articles for kids health here.

(1) Williams, M., & Shellenberger, S. (2012). “How does your engine run?” A leader’s guide to the Alert Program for self-regulation.” Albuquerque, NM: Therapy Works

(2) Flynn, L. (2010). Yoga 4 classrooms. Tools for learning, lessons for life. Dover, NH: Yoga 4 Classrooms.

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The Best Healthy Sun Protection

July is UV Safety Month and earlier we discussed the importance of protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. While avoidance is key, it isn’t always possible, so sunscreen becomes your best protection. However, many sunscreens contain harmful chemicals that are detrimental to your health. Each year the Environmental Working Group compiles a database which ranks sunscreens based on their chemical components to ensure the protection you use isn’t harmful to your body. Check out the best and worst sunscreens here, and be sure to search the brand you use to ensure it is the safest for your overall health!

Environmental Working Group:  2014 Guide to Sunscreen

 

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Schooling on Pooling

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

In celebration of July, I wanted to repost a previous blog from last summer on pool safety. These are always good things to review and consider…especially this time of year.

I was a fortunate child who grew up with an in-ground pool. As the only house on the street with a pool in our yard, the neighborhood kids would loiter around our home hoping for an invite. My mom developed a wonderful system using a Canada flag. If the flag on our fence was up – everyone was welcome for a swim. The only rule was that the kids needed to bring a parent. Mandatory. And despite the kids that would sit on our lawn whining about not having an adult to join them, my mom was firm to the rule.

We have a pool in our yard. This is separately fenced. As our kids are getting older, and have been able to swim for years, we are giving them more freedom around the pool. As long as an adult is home, they are welcome to swim. However, last year I was reminded of an important lesson – just because my kids can swim, that is not necessarily true for others of the same age. We had a pool party for our twins’ birthday and all the kids arrived and proceeded to jump in the pool. One child was hanging around the shallow end and I asked her if she could swim – nope. I was surprised that in dropping her off to a pool party, her parents would not mention this very important fact.

Two summers ago on a street very close to mine an 18 month old child drowned when he was able to get outside while his father had a 15 minute nap. Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children aged 14 and under in Ontario, after motor vehicle accidents. Yet, like many risks, drowning is absolutely preventable. Here are some safety precautions to consider:

Constant and vigilant supervision. Supervision of any child is a full-time job. Most drowning’s occur when a child is playing near the water and falls in – not while “swimming”. So, when it comes to kids, the “within arm’s reach” rule should always apply – whether they are in, or around, water.

Using safety devices for the pool. These could include:

o Poolside Alarm– A motion sensor is installed along the pool edge, which sounds an alarm when waves are detected from a body falling into the water.

o Child Immersion Alarm– A wristband worn by a child, which will sound an alarm when they come into contact with water.

o Pool Fences– Fences should be at least four feet tall, surround the entire pool and have self-latching gates out of the reach of children. Speclocks prevent children from entering the pool area, as they are complex or require adult strength to open. Gate alarms can also be installed to alert when the gate is unexpectedly opened.

o Pool Covers– A cover built to fit your pool dimensions will act as a barrier for a falling body, as they will not enter the water.

o Door locks – special locks, difficult for children to open and installed at the top of a door, prevent kids from being able to get into the yard without an adult.

Use life jackets, not just floaties. If your child is not a strong swimmer, they should always be wearing a life jacket – in a pool, at the beach, or on a boat. Like wearing a seat-belt and helmet, children should be taught from a young age that wearing a life jacket is necessary around water. From a functional standpoint, life jackets are safer than floaties. Floaties can develop small holes that actually fill with water, or can deflate, causing the child to slowly sink lower into the water. A well-fitting life jacket is designed to keep a child’s head above water, and to flip a child over onto their back to facilitate breathing. They cannot deflate. It also provides something for an adult to grasp if they need to pull the child out of the water.

Know the signs of drowning. Contrary to popular belief, drowning does not happen when people are flailing their arms, yelling and calling for help. It is actually the opposite. People that are getting into trouble in the water often look like they are climbing an invisible ladder. They can’t yell or cry for help as their body is low on oxygen and is focused on trying to keep air in, not yell it out. Know the signs – check out this link for the “8 Quiet Signs of Drowning.”

Knowledge of first aid. Parents should always consider having knowledge of CPR or basic water rescue. This could prove handy for many situations beyond just water safety.

Swimming lessons. Give your kids a head start by helping them to become comfortable in the water from a young age. Every minute they can stay afloat could save their life.

But remember, when it comes to children, nothing is safer than diligent and attentive supervision.

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Summer Boredom Busters for Kids

Are you already hearing “I’m bored” from your children? Day-trips, camps, playdates and family vacation time can’t happen every day, so kids sometimes will have to entertain themselves at home. While it is easy to let your kids fall into a routine of technology time, keeping them active is better for both their mental and physical health. But where can you turn to for unique ideas to keep them entertained and busy? Check out these 20 Summer Boredom Busters from Canadian Family Magazine.

Canadian Family:  20 Summer Boredom Busters

For more helpful information for children and families please visit our past blogs devoted to “kids“.

 

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Capturing the Moment or Missing it Altogether?

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

I love the song “Scare Away the Dark” by Passenger. Some of the lyrics have powerful insinuations: “we should stare at the stars and not just at screens”…”we want something real not just hashtag and twitter”…”we are all slowly dying in front of computers”. I believe there is significant truth to what he is saying. The technology pendulum has swung so far in the direction of obsession and I am personally looking forward to it bouncing back to some form of neutral.

If addiction is defined as “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice that is physically or psychologically habit forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma…or “usage of something that is beyond voluntary control” then I would argue that technology applies, and many people have a serious problem.

On a recent holiday the evidence of this was immense. On one occasion I saw three young women on a horse-drawn carriage ride (a $50 experience I might add) and they were all looking at their phones. Were they texting, tweeting, posting on FB “loving my horse drawn carriage ride”, or maybe playing candy crush, instagramming a photo, taking a selfie? Or the families sitting at dinner looking down, using their devices, essentially ignoring each other. Or the guy at the theme park videotaping his experience – he was even videotaping while a photographer was taking their family photo! I am not sure it matters what these people’s intentions were with their devices, but I felt that in perhaps trying to capture these moments they were missing them completely. Look around, talk to each other, take in the sights, sounds, smells, be mindful of the fragility of life and take a moment to be grateful for the experience. Connect. Engage. Smile at a person, not just a screen.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for capturing moments. But some moments need to be captured by our eyes and filed in our brain, not just on a device, memory card, or online. The concept of being present includes enjoying moments while you are in them – without living in the past or obsessing about the future. How can we do this? Enlightened Living suggests that being present involves recognizing that we can only do ONE thing at a time and thus we should engage wholeheartedly. Taking a photo while trying to absorb a moment are two tasks that cannot happen simultaneously. Thus why people feel that “life has passed them by”…they were never there to fully experience it in the first place.

So every once in a while check your addiction. Step away from your phone. Take technology away from your children. Leave it at home. Don’t take it on vacation. Set rules for technology behavior. In our house we have significant rules for screen use, including a 17 clause contract our daughter signed in getting her first cell phone at age 14. Rule # 1: The phone cannot be used to be mean to anyone – directly or indirectly. Rule # 2: Proper grammar and spelling must be used when communicating. Rule # 4 and 5: The phone is not allowed upstairs and cannot be used during family or meal times. Rule # 9: I will not use my phone to take photos or video of people without their permission. I will not post or share photos or video without consent of the people in them. Rule # 15: I will follow classroom and teacher rules for phone use when at school. Rule # 16: I understand this is not an appendage and obsessive use will not be tolerated. Rule # 17 is a list of reasons for repossession. My 14 and 12 year olds read the contract together. At the end my 12 year old said “so, what CAN she do”?

Do you feel sorry for my kid? Don’t. The real reason for the contract was not because she needs to be rigidly structured, but because I, as a new parent of a kid with a cell phone, was not comfortable with the entire concept in the first place. At 14 (and younger) kids are not developmentally able to understand and grasp the full impact of this new power in their possession. That is why there are recommended ages for Facebook (14), and age-specific laws for driving and drinking. They are young, naïve, immature, and still learning the ways of the world. I have a responsibility to be her guide, as effortful as that is. In the end, the contract worked to set out the expectations, establish boundaries, communicate about safety and proper use, and helped us recognize the need to adapt as a family to the transition of now raising teenagers, not just “kids”. But my true intent was to make sure that I don’t teach her, or worse, model for her, that technology trumps experiences, replaces in-person relationships, or is a valuable way to tick away the proverbial time bomb that is life.

So, try if you can to capture moments by being present, and by using your born faculties to photograph, store and file your memories – not just a device. Check in with yourself at times about your behaviors, track these, shock your system with some detox, set some boundaries and try to unplug.

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Compliment Your Mirror Day

Today, July 3rd, is “compliment your mirror day.”  We all seem to have a tendency to look in the mirror and focus on the negative; however, it is known that the power of positivity can help boost self-esteem.  The following article from Today’s Parent discusses the importance of building self-esteem in children from a young age and tips on how to boost their confidence so they can “compliment their mirror” every day.

Today’s Parent:  How To Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem

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Put a Plug on Your Kid’s Summer Brain Drain

The report cards are done, the bell has rung, the kids are excited and summer vacation is upon us! Summer is a time for camps, vacations, trips, cottaging and so much more! But where do they fit in learning? Ahead lies two full months of vacation from traditional schooling; which for many kids is enough time for their young minds to unlearn much of what was taught. How do we as parents make sure our kids don’t suffer summer brain drain, while still ensuring they get the break and vacation they need? Check out the following from Family Education for great tips on how to easily and painlessly incorporate learning into your summer plans!

Family Education:  Stop the Summer Brain Drain!

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Use Fats to Feed Both a Growing and Aging Brain

The following from Dr. Sears discusses the importance of proper nutrition to fuel the body, and most importantly the brain. Dr. Sears states “…there are two windows of time in which the brain is especially sensitive to nutrition: the first two years of life for a growing baby and the last couple decades of life for a senior citizen.” The article discusses the best ways to provide this nutrition is through the incorporation DHA and Omega 3 fats. Read this great article here to get the facts on the fats you need for proper brain development and optimal brain function!

Ask Dr. Sears:  Omega-3 and DHA as Brain Food

 

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The World’s Most Popular Sport: Can “Heading” Cause Brain Damage?

Once every four years millions of people across the globe engage in World Cup enthusiasm. While known as the most popular game for years on other continents, the popularity of soccer in North America has grown significantly over the past decade. Soccer is a fantastic sport that teaches coordination and team work, provides an excellent source of exercise, and is an affordable and fun activity for people of all ages and abilities.

Recently there has been a growing concern of the effects that “heading” the ball may have on the brain. Due to repeat “knocks” to the head, many are concerned that heading the ball may be too dangerous and some are calling for this aspect of the game to be removed from youth soccer. For the time being, “heading” remains a part of the game so it’s important to ensure that players are doing this properly and safely. Check out the following from CBC to see some great ways to ensure safety on the soccer field.

CBC:  Soccer head injuries may be underappreciated

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Use Your Head: Keep Kids Safe on the Playground

Remember this? If you do, you were probably a kid in the 70’s or 80’s. I remember hanging on for dear life as some teenager would try to spin us so fast we would become sick or fly off at record speeds. I can only imagine the injury rates that prompted the removal of these from playgrounds.
As parents, we all have a different “danger zone” with our kids. Yet, there is a balance between letting them play recklessly and engaging in the new trend of “dangerism” where we are preventing our kids from taking risks – risks that can be so important to healthy growth and development. Playgrounds are a great source of physical exertion and outdoor exploration, but can also be unsafe. Playground injuries account for over 28,000 injuries per year in Canada (Parachute Injury Prevention) and that while many kids suffer only minor injuries, approximately 10% are hospitalized for a more severe injury often involving the head. So, how do we let our kids enjoy the playgrounds, have fun with friends, and explore independently while still keeping them safe? Check out the following from “Caring For Kids” to learn more about playgrounds safety tips.

Caring for Kids:

Playground Safety