“Hunger Games”…more than a good movie!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by llpitlwp

The Hunger Games…I have not read the book …I have not seen the movie.

But I have read an excellent review on a website that seems to be a good find if you want to know how to keep pace with your children and their exposure to technology and media.

What parents need to know…Parents need to know that although the bestselling Hunger Games books are enormously popular with tweens, theres a clear distinction between reading about violence and seeing it portrayed on screen. Developmentally, the 10- to 12-year-olds whove read the book may find the movies visceral, sometimes bloody teen-on-teen violence upsetting — especially the brutal scene that opens the Games, in which several teens are slaughtered by their fellow contestants. Even young teens need to be mature enough to deal with the 20+ deaths in The Hunger Games; characters are viciously dispatched with various weapons — including spears, arrows, and swords — as well as by having their necks broken, their skulls cracked, and their bodies ravaged by carnivorous and poisonous creatures.

Discussion suggestions for parents and kids:

Families can talk about how the Hunger Games’ “last man standing” premise (minus the actual killing, of course) compares to current reality shows. Which shows pit people against each other? Why is it so much fun to watch the alliances and the voting off and the cattiness of these programs? How far do you think shows like this could go?

Use the movie’s depiction of Panem — particularly the relationship between the Capitol and the 12 districts — to discuss how much kids understand about totalitarian governments and dictatorships. What does President Snow mean when he says he doesn’t root for “underdogs”? Or that too much hope is a dangerous thing?

via The Hunger Games – Movie Review.

Related sites:

www.commensensemedia.org

Toddlers …”Stay in Bed…PLEASE!

Posted on April 9, 2012 by llpitlwp

In our home, once upon a bedtime used to mean a simple, pleasant and relatively easy routine until “bad dreams” became one our little one’s nighttime fears.

Fortunately, the ‘bad dreams’ have all but disappeared with the help of a magic wand and consistent reassurance whenever our toddler is awakened crying and frightened.

Now bedtime has become its own nightmare…procrastination has taken over our once relaxing routine. Our little granddaughter is a master at asking for sips of water, multiple stories, hugs and kisses to name only a few of her requests when the word ‘bedtime’ is spoken.

Before we get totally weary, we have decided to deal with this issue now and without delay.

We are about to pursue some tips from the Sleep Lady. Even though, I also work in the field of child sleep teaching, I admit that I must remain open to suggestions when dealing with issues within my own family.

First off, we will all sit down with our granddaughter to discuss the “new” routine making sure that she knows we will always be nearby….(which is actually a return to our pre-nightmare routine)…however, we will not be rocking her to sleep or reading numerous books…there will be one sip of water…good night hugs, kisses and tuck in.

These days, naps after morning pre-school are inconsistent, so 8-8:30 pm seems to be an appropriate bedtime in order to get the recommended ten to eleven hours of sleep for a 3 1/2 year old. She also has one hour quiet time every afternoon.

Goal: in bed, asleep between 8-8:30 pm.

The Bedtime Routine:

go to the toilet
bath
brush teeth
read a story
rock for two minutes
get into bed
sip of water
hugs, kisses and tuck in
leave the room
gate up/door open

How does bedtime work for your preschooler?
Are you consistent with your child’s bedtime routine?

Does a grandparent or other caregiver not follow the routine… are they more easily diverted by your child’s prize winning procrastination abilities?

I have to say that I am the grandparent who, at times gives in, and Papa can be sometimes equally as bad as I am.

At this time, we are committed to a firmer routine so that all of us can sleep better.

It is the least we can do…

Sleep is just too important.

Vogue …Mother and 7 Year-Old Daughter Diet…Healthy or Sick?

Posted on April 4, 2012 by llpitlwp

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

As a professional advocate for children, I am saddened and appalled by the obesity epidemic in children.

The younger generation actually may not live as long as their parents…this is sickening…because we have the knowledge. But our social programs, our big businesses that make their money selling non-nutritional foods, and our own will power detours us onto the road to OBESITY.

Last week, Vogue published an article written by a mom who chronicled her 7 year old daughter’s 16 pound weight loss.

The response to the Vogue mom’s efforts were fast and furious severely criticizing her approach to her daughter’s weight.

While I agree that some of the situations that this mom describes are not ideal, it seems that she had her daughter’s best interest at heart.

As parents, we all know that at times dealing with our kids, no matter what their age, can actually bring out the worst in us.

We do and say things that we regret. I cannot imagine putting a 7 year old little girl on a diet without some bad behavior on both parts…mom and daughter.

What has been your experience with your own “bad” behaviors when dealing with your child’s behavior?

My response to this mother-daughter weight loss story is this…it seems to be an honest story…the outcome for the child was good in that she did lose weight and is probably physically more healthy.

HOWEVER...I can also say that some of the ways mom dealt with her 7 year old daughter’s diet may produce lasting emotional effects on her and they may not be healthy ones. Only time will tell…

It is said that children are ‘resilient’ and bounce back from adversity…many times, they do but not without scars.

I would also say, thank-you to this mom for sharing her very personal experience with her daughter so that other moms might learn from her story.

Finally, “Mom …you hopefully did the best you could and your daughter is now healthier for it. Hopefully no long term harm done!”

The following are some of the responses to the Vogue article:

The stats on childhood obesity are sobering: 1 in 3 U.S. kids weighs too much. In the April issue of Vogue, we learn about one of them. Her name is Bea, and it’s pretty hard not to imagine her growing up to really, really hate her mother.

via Vogue Essay By a Mom Who Put Her 7-Year-Old Daughter on a Diet Garners Outrage | Healthland | TIME.com.

Helping a child who weighs too much now, but still needs to keep growing, is a challenge that there’s more than one way to meet, and there is obviously more than one difference between these two children and families. Yet I’m struck by this one: the Reids suggest that it’s possible to shift to healthier habits together, and support each other through the moments when it just doesn’t feel like a single Oreo will do. Ms. Weiss seems to argue that sometimes, a parent has to force her child to do what she knows is best, and that children are not always going to willingly go along with the program.Can a parent’s demands create long-term change in a child, or does a successful healthy relationship with food have to come from within at any age?

via Putting a 7-Year-Old on a Diet – NYTimes.com.

I called Dr. Dolgoff, the founder of “Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right,” the Weight Watchers-style program that Bea based her diet upon, to hear what she thought of the piece. She said that while Weiss “clearly loved and wanted the best for her daughter,” she “wasnt thrilled” by the article, especially since it somewhat misleadingly portrayed her program, which focuses on empowering children, stresses that parents refrain from embarrassing their kids in public, and allows kids a number of indulgences to enjoy with friends. “The program has to be run by the child,” she said, “and the truth is that making a child feel bad only causes problems. Its not going to help with weight loss, and its definitely not going to help the child emotionally.”

via Mom Puts 7-Year-Old on a Diet in the Worst Vogue Article Ever.

For Bea, the achievement is bittersweet. When I ask her if she likes how she looks now, if she’s proud of what she’s accomplished, she says yes…Even so, the person she used to be still weighs on her. Tears of pain fill her eyes as she reflects on her year-long journey. “That’s still me,” she says of her former self. “I’m not a different person just because I lost sixteen pounds.” I protest that, indeed, she is different. At this moment, that fat girl is a thing of the past. A tear rolls down her beautiful cheek, past the glued-in feather. “Just because it’s in the past,” she says, “doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

via Good Parent’s Are Not Afraid To Put Their Overweight Children On A Diet « Beyond Black & White.

Sickle Cell Disease

Posted on March 26, 2012 by llpitlwp

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle-cell is an inherited disease. It is a blood disease caused by inheriting the gene from both your mother and father. A person is thus born with Sickle-cell disease.

You can be a carrier of the gene and not have the disease. If only one parent has the gene they can pass the gene on to their children. A child who inherits only one gene for Sickle-cell becomes a carrier of the disease but does not have the actual disease.

Sickle-cell is when the red blood cells are misshapen. Rather than round concave, convex smooth shape the red blood cells are in the shape of a sickle or half-moon.

This abnormal cell shape impairs the blood cells’ ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. The abnormally shaped cells can get stuck inside the blood vessels and cause intense pain throughout the body. When our organs such heart, liver, kidneys and our tissue in general does not get adequate oxygen it leads to very intense pain.

Sadly, there is no cure for Sickle-cell disease.

Some of the ways of managing sickle-cell disease:

high fluid intake
heathly diet
folic acid supplements
pain medication
vaccination and antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of infections
Blood transfusions when anemia is severe and life threatening

via WHO | Sickle-cell disease and other haemoglobin disorders.

Here are some things that you also might want to know about Sickle-cell disease:

1. Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. World wide it affects about 500,00 babies a year, about 100,0oo Americans have sickle cell disease. In the US as many as 2 million people carry the sickle cell gene.

2. Sickle cell disease is chronic but treatable and is not a death sentence. Sickle cell disease is a chronic illness and can be debilitating but with treatment people are living longer into their 40’s and 50’s. Twenty years ago, in many cases children did not live to be adults.

3. Sickle cell disease affects people of many different races. This is not an African-American disease…it affects other races as well, including Mediterranean, Indian, and Middle Eastern heritage.

4. Patients with sickle cell disease require comprehensive care. “A lot of day-to-day care can be done by a generalist,” says Dr. George Buchanan, professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “But it is important to have a team of experts who work together and are in ongoing consultation with a large institution or center that specializes in sickle cell disease.”

via Sickle Cell Disease – 5 Things to Know – NYTimes.com.

Week in Review….Parenting in the Loop

Posted on February 24, 2012 by llpitlwp

Links of the Week:

Internet Safety:

via InternetSafety101.

The Internet has opened up an exciting new world filled with benefits for everyone. It has also opened the door to many potential dangers for children.

Childbirth:

via Deep Fear of Childbirth Drives Some C-Sections | Healthland | TIME.com.

The mere idea of pushing a fully grown baby into the world the natural way can give even the bravest expectant mother pause. But a small number of women are so terrified of childbirth that it dramatically raises their odds of delivering by emergency or elective cesarean section, according to new research to be published in the international journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica AOGS.

Sleep:

via Why Sleep Is the Ultimate Parental Bugaboo: Go the F— to Sleep Offers a Clue | Healthland | TIME.com.

For all the lead-up to having a baby, newborns don’t do much: eat, sleep, poop. Pooping happens without any parental intervention. Eating is a function of breast or bottle. But, ah, sweet slumber — that is the wild card.

It is a “snowy day” here in Chicago but the sun is trying to make an appearance.

Have wonderful weekend!

Time-outs…Time-ins for children…

Posted on February 23, 2012 by llpitlwp

Preschoolers are intensively learning rules and testing boundaries. That means yours may gleefully flout your directives and push the limits you impose whenever she gets the chance. And though a preschooler is much more capable of rational thought than a toddler, shes still ruled by her emotions, and can turn on a dime from a happy-go-lucky kid to a flailing, wailing wild thing.

via Time-outs: How to make them work ages 3 to 4 | BabyCenter.

We use time out at our house and usually it gives us all time to calm down. My little granddaughter usually responds to this method of behavior modification.

In fact, I use meditation…deep breathing time-outs when things get particularly hectic during the day.

So my suggestion would be to teach your child or grandchild how to quietly breathe whenever you get a quiet moment with them. My granddaughter shows an interest in yoga whenever she sees me practicing…so seize the opportunity to teach kids whenever you can.

Here is a summary about time-outs from Baby Center.

What is a time-out? It is not a punishment…but a time to modify a child’s behavior, a time to get control again.
Time the time out One minute for each year so three minutes for a 3 year olds is what is recommended.
Make it a specific place for time-outs preferably one without any distractions but where you can observe them
Be consistent with what a child gets a time out for
Follow-up with a discussion about the behavior that caused the necessity of a time out.
Have time-ins for good behavior. Spend extra time with your child and tell him when is doing well.

Time-outs definitely have a place in behavior modification when used effectively within good guidelines they can help a child gain back his control and that is a good thing.

Kid’s Birthday Bashes….

Posted on January 11, 2012 by llpitlwp

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

As a mom, kids’ birthday parties have always irritated me …as a grandmother I realize not much has changed…my feelings are pretty much the same as they were “back in the day”.

Now don’t get me wrong…I love a good party and I guess that is the question. What is a good party for a toddler and preschooler?

My guidelines:

pick a theme
make it simple
make it fun
no gifts
useful goody bags
no candy

I prefer a morning party for a young child and have actually hosted a couple of “breakfast” parties. The kids usually eat and by lunch time all is said and done and there still is something left of the day….Years back we actually did a diner theme party from the “Penny Whistle Party Planner“. It was fun and entertaining…more importantly, the kids loved it.

Afternoon parties can be problematic if naps are still part of a child’s routine but let’s say it is an early afternoon event.,,, like after lunch, snacks and cake…maybe decorate your own cupcakes would amuse…some work involved …messy of course but let’s be creative here. How about ending with a game or two?

A late afternoon party could incorporate dinner foods like pizza and cupcakes...so then parents don’t have to worry about getting the kids to eat after they are stuffed with sweets…

Some type of theme is always fun…and the kids really do enjoy make-believe and seeing their parents role playing. Penny Whistle is a great reference…it is a timeless go to book.

Gifts…

Face it most kids don’t really need anything…they have stuff and more stuff.

So what about those gifts…how about asking for diapers to deliver to a shelter (Every Little Bottom) or some other thoughtful donation and have one gift from the parents or grandparents to open at the party.

On to those goody bags…or should I say “not so good bags”.

What about these…

lets just skip them altogether….nah!

or how about some simple useful stuff…

…crayons and a nice coloring book …easy and useful…markers and paper…no candy…please no candy

The party does not have to be at home but that of course is nice…

But let’s be realistic…how about checking out kid friendly venues and adapting it to your needs.

In any event…make it a kid friendly…

Happy Birthday!

Uncooked Cookie Dough …

Posted on December 15, 2011 by llpitlwp

NOTEWORTHY ~~WEDNESDAY~~ THURSDAY!

This is a season of cookie baking…and the verdict is in…eat cookie dough at the risk of getting sick.

Yes, sick…really sick from e-coli (bacteria found in feces) and salmonella.

Salmonella can be traced to eating raw eggs.

E-coli, it turns out has been found in flour.

Just a few days ago, I was baking chocolate chip cookies from a prepared Betty Crocker cookie mix, that happens to be one of my favorites. On the package I noticed a warning “Do Not Eat Raw Dough”. Now, I suspected that it was due to the salmonella risk but after reading the NYT article I believe it was also related to the e-coli risk as well.

I hope that you all enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year and that if tempted by the delicious smell of cookie dough you resist “tasting” it or giving it to your kids.

One study that looked at commercial wheat flour samples found almost 13 percent contaminated with E. coli. The investigators also pointed out that wheat flour can also be contaminated with Salmonella, and that flour-based mixes have previously been implicated in outbreaks of food-borne illness.

via Beware of Raw Cookie Dough – NYTimes.com.

Instant Soup and children’s burns.

Posted on December 5, 2011 by llpitlwp

If you do one thing today read this and pass it on to anyone who has children…no child should have to suffer burns or scalds!

If this prevents one accident I will be very happy.

Noodle soup is strangely perfect for delivering a serious burn. The sticky noodles cling to the skin, which leads to deeper, more severe burns, according to a study published in 2007. The study showed that hospital stays for upper body noodle-soup burns are more than twice as long as scalds from hot liquids alone. Garner says that about one in five children he sees with the burns end up needing surgery, and these patients can face permanent scarring and limited mobility in their joints.

via Why Burn Doctors Hate Instant Soup : Planet Money : NPR.

Kids and Allergies-“Allergy friendly party: How to host a kids party – latimes.com”

Posted on October 26, 2011 by llpitlwp

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

Although only a small percentage of children in the U.S. have reported food allergies it can be deadly for that small number.

It is important for those of us who are not affected by this problem to remain empathic for those that do ….

…..it can mean life or death within minutes of exposure.

With that being said, if your child has friends with allergies or your child, herself, has allergies it means that childhood parties and holiday celebrations at school can be problematic.

There are many ways to host an allergy free event…it may not be all that easy but well worth the effort.

I would urge any parent or grandparent to become familiar with common food allergies and the signs of an allergic reaction so that they can respond appropriately if necessary.

When in doubt if it is an allergic reaction….call 911…better to be safe than sorry!

So…I came across this information in the LA Times which might be helpful.

The latest research shows that 8 percent of children in the United States have food allergies, which means that even if your kid can eat her weight in PB&J or egg salad, she’ll probably have a friend who can’t.

Here are some tips from Beasley on how to host an allergy-friendly kids party:

1. On party invitations, mention upfront if there will be a food-centric theme, such as decorating your own pizza or assembling gingerbread houses.

2. If the parent of a food-allergic child contacts you before the party, offer to put out a “safe” dish (prepared by the parent and dropped off with the child) amid buffet items.

3. Choose dishware that comes in a variety of colors instead of a uniform print. This will help an allergic child avoid accidentally using someone else’s tainted cup or fork.

4. If traditional cake is being served, don’t make a big production out of cutting and handing a slice to each guest. If ice cream is being served, have a nondairy fruit sorbet on hand that can be substituted without drawing attention to the milk-allergic child.

5. If crafts will be a focal point, beware of common allergens that might be ingredients in art supplies, such as glue (milk), modeling clay (wheat) and tempera paints (egg).

6. Giving out goody bags? Be sure any food you include is thoroughly wrapped. Crumbs from a cookie or chocolate’s oils can contaminate the toys bundled beside it. Or leave out food altogether.

Andrea Pyros writes for the coupon site RetailMeNot.com.

Distributed by MCT Information Services

via Allergy friendly party: How to host a kids party – latimes.com.