HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

  • Power Down At Night

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of family playing a game of chess.

    Make the hour before bed a no-electronics zone, said Dr. Jill Creighton, pediatrician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Powering down makes bedtime easier because kids need to relax before going to sleep.

    Most school-age kids (ages 6 to 17) have at least one device; a smartphone, video games, iPad or computer in their bedrooms while sleeping, according to a National Sleep Foundation survey. And children who leave those devices on at night sleep less-up to one hour less on average per night. Dr. Creighton makes a few more observations for your kids (and maybe for you as well):

    *  Ban hand-held devices from the bedroom. “The burst of light from a phone (even if it’s just to check the time) can break a sleep cycle,” she said. “A regular alarm clock is best.”

    *  If your child has a slight addiction to technology and is resistant about turning off a device, try dialing down the screen time. “Reduce screen time by 30 minutes or more each week until you reach your goal,” said Dr. Creighton. “A good rule of thumb is try to limit recreational screen time to 60 minutes every day. And for every 30 minutes of screen time, make sure your kids get 30 minutes of physical activity.”

    *  Try to replace screen time with an activity. “It’s sometimes hard to get kids off the couch and get them moving,” said Dr. Creighton. “Parents, get creative and make moving fun for kids.” Some ideas: a 20-minute family walk, 20 minutes of shooting hoops outside, walking the dog, going bike riding and doing chores (with the promise of an allowance) such as vacuuming, putting away laundry, raking leaves, shoveling snow and helping with the garbage/recycling.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Telling Kids About Tragedy

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of parents talking to their child.

    Talking to kids about scary events and disasters is important when they’re old enough to understand. Kids may have more fear of an event if they don’t know any details. They may imagine something much worse than what happened.

    Although telling kids some details may help, the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s important that you filter the information you give your child. Think about the child’s age, personality and what they will be able to cope with. These steps can get the conversation started:

    *Ask the child what they know about the event.This can help you separate facts from fiction. It gives you a way to explain the things they already know in a way that is direct but not scary.

    *Avoid any graphic details.Although the media may share lots of details that are graphic and scary, children should be shielded from these things.

    *Don’t be too vague.Saying “something happened that was bad” doesn’t give enough information. Instead, name the place where it happened and tell them that some people were hurt. The police/firemen/ government, etc. are helping people and working to keep us safe.

    *Keep it open ended.Tell them if they have any questions, they can ask you.

    Is your child coping?

    After a disaster, some children have a hard time coping. These red flags may be a sign that your child needs help:

    *  Trouble sleeping, nightmares or being very tired all the time

    *  Unusual aches and pains, such as headache or feeling “sick” often

    *  Appetite changes

    *  Social changes, such as aggression or being clingy

    *  Frequent feelings of sadness or fear

    Talk to your child’s doctor if you notice any of these changes.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Wired And Dangerous

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of sport drinks with yellow "Caution" tape wrapped around the bottles.

    Parents beware. If your tots and teens get their hands on your energy drinks, they could experience seizures, heart palpitations, or other problems that drive them to the hospital ER.

    Children most at risk appear to be those who regularly consume the increasingly popular caffeine-laden energy drinks or gulp down a relatively large amount of the liquid in a short span, according to Rutgers University’s poison control experts.

    “These drinks are made for adults. When young children drink them, they consume a large quantity of caffeine for their body mass. At the minimum, they become wired-just as an adult would-and it might be difficult for parents to console them or calm them down,” said Bruce Ruck, director of drug information and professional education for the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System at Rutgers.

    “Children also might have trouble falling asleep or experience tremors, anxiety, agitation, heart palpitations, nausea or vomiting. Of more concern, they may experience a rapid heart rate or seizures,” he said.

    Ruck also said that, in addition to large amounts of caffeine, most energy drinks contain sweeteners, vitamins, and maybe herbal products, some of which may hold hidden risks for certain people.

    *  Don’t let kids be lured by the “rock star” graphics  on the cans that look like soda pop.

    *  Store drinks on a high shelf, away from the view  of kids.

    *  Monitor and limit your teens’ exposure to these drinks. Mixing them with alcohol or a rigorous workout can cause death.

    *  The journal Clinical Toxicology has reported that children under age 6 who consumed caffeine-infused energy drinks accounted for more than half of the energy drink-related poisonings involving children. The American Medical Association is calling for a ban on marketing energy drinks to children under 18.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine