Category Archives: parenting

Back in School, Part 3: Teachers

Every morning when you send your child to school, you are putting her into the educational, social, emotional and physical care of other adults. This can be intimidating at times, but it doesn’t have to be.

The vast majority of teachers are in classrooms because they want to be, because they care about the students and love the material they teach, and because they want to make a difference. They spend time in the classroom trying to instill in youngsters the love of learning. And they spend time outside the classroom preparing lessons, grading work, and keeping the mountains of records and paperwork required by the school system.

Most of all, they want every child—your child—to be successful. That success is far less likely without your support.

Speak positively about your child’s teachers. If you hear complaints from your young student, listen with an objective mind.
Establish a relationship with a teacher. If you can volunteer at the school, wonderful. Your schedule may not allow that, so find other ways to be in touch.
- Stay connected. Most teachers and classrooms have a website. Send the teacher an e-mail when you appreciate something he’s done for your child or if you have a question. If there’s ever a problem, you will have built a positive base for your relationship, and the problem will be easier to deal with.
- Attend parent-teacher conferences. These are important for everyone concerned: student, teacher, family. You will learn things about the classroom and how your child interacts with adults and classmates, and will come away with a much more rounded picture of the education process in that particular class.
- Make appointments. Don’t wait for a conference if you have questions or concerns. Face-to-face meetings are helpful and teachers want to be available to you. They will want to hear from you sooner rather than later.
- Reinforce at home what’s happening in the classroom. From spelling tests to chemistry homework, from learning how to talk out problems with fellow students to deciding what to eat for lunch, the teacher and you are on the same team.
- Of course, if there is ever concern about inappropriate or illegal activity by a teacher or any other adult, notify the authorities immediately.

Teachers are on the front lines of helping your child develop in age-appropriate ways. Support them, connect with them, and thank them.

Back in School, Part 1: Staying Healthy

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Now that your child is back in school, the sometimes easy-breezy days of summer have turned hectic with schedules, deadlines, homework, complex relationships. For the next few weeks we’ll be running a series about things to keep in mind during the school year ahead.

Today we start with how best to insure a healthy year at school.

You already know the best way to stay healthy, but it bears repeating: prevention is always the best medicine. Here are some pointers.

Checkups. Has your child had her annual well child checkup? If not, now is the time to schedule it. The doctor will look at health history, height and weight, and will discuss age-appropriate health topics with you and your child. If you have a specific concern (social behaviors, learning difficulties, chronic ear infections, etc.) to discuss, you’ll want to let the office know when you call for the appointment to make sure they schedule a longer visit for you.
Immunizations. Yes, we harp on this a lot, but it’s for good reason. Immunizations protect children, families, and even whole communities from dangerous diseases. The state requires that you keep certain ones up to date; we have others we recommend. Check with our office (or on the patient portal) for your records.
Exercise. Sitting all day at school, then coming home and sitting in front of the TV or at the computer and homework desk is not good for your kid. He needs to get moving. Don’t expect physical education classes to provide all the exercise he needs. Unstructured play is good for all children, and organized sports are a great way to learn things like discipline, teamwork and a sense of accomplishment.
Germs. Let’s be honest. There’s no way to avoid germs at school. Uncovered coughs and sneezes, shared desks and close quarters give viruses all sorts of opportunities to infect students. Some exposure is good to develop immunity, but keeping hands clean is a great way to stave off colds and flu. Send hand sanitizer to school in your children’s backpack, and remind them to clean their hands before eating and after they use the restroom. Every time. Don’t share drinks or eating utensils. And, while we’re at it, remind them not to share combs, brushes or hats, which is the most common way to spread head lice.
Sleep. A good night’s sleep is an essential ingredient in the learning process. Sleep also helps mood and strengthens the immune system. Set a regular bedtime and stick with it, making sure your child or teen has an age-appropriate amount of sleep.
Balanced diet. Eating right feeds both body and brain. This webpage at the American Academy of Pediatrics site lists several of their articles regarding diet. Don’t forget we have a dietician on staff who can help you come up with an action plan for your young athlete, picky eater, diabetic, or can help you plan easy lunches and snacks to pack for school.

Keep these things in mind throughout the school year and they will help your child have a successful and healthy school year.

Why narcotics are prescribed carefully

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You may have noticed that narcotic prescriptions are increasingly difficult to get for patients of any age these days. That includes children and teens.

Because of the common problems of prescription drug overuse and even abuse, narcotics are more tightly controlled than ever. Before anyone (even a child) can be prescribed narcotics in Kentucky, the physician’s office must run a KASPER report on that person’s prescription drug history. KASPER (Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting) “tracks controlled substance prescriptions dispensed within the state. A KASPER report shows all scheduled prescriptions for an individual over a specified time period, the prescriber and the dispenser,” according the official website. The intent is not to prevent you from getting the medications you need, but to prevent overuse and provide a source of information for medical practitioners.

For this reason, refills and usage of narcotics are scrutinized closely within our office and narcotic cough suppressants (such as codeine) are rarely prescribed or suggested.

This is a good time to remind adults to store medications out of reach and out of sight. A young child is curious, and differently colored and shaped pills can look like candy. Older children and teens may want to experiment with drugs, and the ones in your medicine cabinet are free and accessible. Serious consequences of overdose, addiction and even death can occur, so lock your medicines away so that your children and teens don’t have access to them. Remind grandparents and other homes where you child visits of these important safety guidelines.

Narcotics are sometimes important, even essential, tools in your family’s health. But they are to be used carefully and cautiously.

Reading is fun, but what if your child has dyslexia?

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Many people delight in reading a good book over the summer and families often take trips to the library or virtual trips to Amazon. But for some, reading is a chore or nearly impossible.

Dyslexia, also known as Developmental Reading Disorder (DRD), is a learning disability that starts with the brain, though it doesn’t at all mean that the affected person has lower intelligence. It’s simply the inability to process words properly and can involve auditory and oral issues as well as reading. A person with DRD might have trouble distinguishing letter and word sounds when someone is speaking, as well difficulty recognizing written words. DRD may sometimes be clustered with learning disabilities that inhibit writing and/or arithmetic skills.

If you’re concerned that your child may have dyslexia or another learning disability, speak with your pediatrician. She’ll ask questions about family history and the particular difficulties your child is having, and may schedule (or refer for) a neurological exam or other testing.

Treatment involves specific types of tutoring and coping skills, depending on the type and severity of the learning disability. The pediatrician or an educational psychologist can help you find the right program for your specific situation.

Learning disabilities often lead to boredom, behavior problems, and low self-esteem. The frustrations of not being able to read at grade level or perform schoolwork correctly and in a timely manner can be very stressful. For that reason you may want to arrange some counseling for your child as well. Psychological coping skills are just as important as educational coping skills.

For more information, this National Institutes of Health article is very helpful, and the source of much of the information in today’s blog.

Manners? Yes, please.

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Summertime is easy—so they say. It can also be an easier time to remind children and teens about good manners. Hopefully, you will have more times of relaxed conversation when you aren’t trying to juggle homework, school and extracurricular schedules all at once.

Manners are important because they remind us of the value of every human being. Saying please and thank you is respectful, whether those words are spoken to someone in the family, a teacher or coach, or a complete stranger. Being helpful ingrains kindness in the helper and encourages it in the recipient and observer.

What are age appropriate manners?

Ages 2—5. Teach children to say please and thank you at the right times. Children at this age usually love to help people, so encourage that tendency. At the playground, they can help a younger child, with supervision. At home, they can learn to pass the potatoes. When meeting someone, they can shake hands and learn to answer questions that are asked.
Ages 5—7. As the child develops physically and emotionally, so should their moral growth be progressing. Teach good phone manners by practicing in a game. Have a “manners night” once a week at the supper table, where everyone has to speak politely and initiate good conversation. Give a small reward at the end of the meal for the person who showed the best manners.
Older children. Learning to smile and maintain eye contact during a conversation is important as children grow. They can learn to ask people about themselves, and to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate questions. Your suppertime conversations can engage their imaginations and teach them how to talk to other people.
Teens. When our children mature into teens, they often become less receptive to their parents’ helpful instructions on manners, but that doesn’t mean you can let them off the hook. By now they should know your standards, and you should be able to witness them using their manners at home and elsewhere. Teens who are mannerly, you may tell them, will likely advance at school and work because others respond positively to our good behavior.

Perhaps the main thing to remember about teaching manners to your children is this: be an example. Use please and thank you when you remind them about their chores. Treat your spouse and other adults and youngsters with respect.

If you are often cross with them, they will reflect that attitude back to you and to others. But if you treat them and others kindly, they will learn to mimic that behavior, both consciously and unconsciously.

Expect good manners from your children and that is likely what you will get.

E. coli and other nasty things: how to have good food safety for your cookout or picnic

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The holiday weekend approaches, with plans for picnics, cookouts, reunions, and fun! At the same time we’re hearing about a recall of nearly 2 million pounds of ground beef that is possibly contaminated with E. coli bacteria. How can you be sure about the safety of the food you’re serving your family?

You are right to be cautious. Foodborne illnesses can be very serious, even deadly. E. coli, in particular, can cause organ failure, and children may be especially vulnerable.

Here are some basic rules to keep in mind.

Cook ground meats ALL the way through. Pink interiors mean raw meat, and when that meat is ground, microbes that used to be on the surface of the meat can now be deep inside it. If the meat is fully cooked, any E. coli should be taken care of.
Cook poultry completely through. Chicken, in particular, can be contaminated with Salmonella.
Don’t reuse the plate that held raw meat or poultry. It must be washed before being used to hold cooked meat or other foods. The same goes with knives and other utensils.
Keep food separate. Fruits and vegetables shouldn’t be stored in the same container with uncooked meat and poultry, for example.
Chill leftovers soon. This is important when you’re at a picnic and far from your refrigerator. Take a cooler and ice packs.
Keep your hands clean. Wash them often. Take hand sanitizer on your picnic. Don’t change a baby’s diaper while preparing food.
Wash your fruits and vegetables. When you clean poultry in the sink, be sure to sanitize the sink afterwards so that you don’t contaminate food, dishes and utensils.

More information is available here from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A fun holiday is a safe holiday. Enjoy the time together and have a great weekend!

Launching your senior

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Graduation quickly approaches. Is your senior (or junior who will be at this point a year from now) prepared for a life in the world? Are you prepared for such a big change?

“Launching,” as it’s called, can create feelings of excitement and dread, happiness and fear, joy and anxiety in both teens and their parents. You’ve all been aiming for this day her whole life, and now it’s right around the corner. What’s the best way to face this important time?

Actually, there may be no “best way.” Every graduate, every parent, every family is different. Pay attention to how your graduate is facing this important milestone, and pay attention to your own feelings.

Letting go. You’ve been practicing letting go for nearly two decades: the first day of school; the first sleepover at a friend’s house; the first solo car trip. Even if your graduate isn’t moving out, increasing independence should be his goal and yours. He’s an adult, or soon will be.
Holding on. You and your graduate both need to verbalize that she’s always going to be a part of the family; graduation doesn’t change that. Even if she is moving out, she will benefit from the knowledge that she will always have your love and support.

How to find the balance? Make time (if you haven’t already) to address a few important topics together, so your graduate will know your expectations, and you will know his.

Education. Is higher education after high school an expectation? A hope? If so, what type and when? Is taking time before further education an option?
Money. What are expectations regarding continuing parental financial support, whether school is an option or not? Who will pay for rent, food, cell phone, computer, books, etc.?
Living arrangements. Is the graduate moving out or continuing to live at home? If staying at home, is she expected to contribute to household expenses and chores?
Communication. How will you stay in touch if he moves out? How will you grant independence if he stays home?
Healthcare. Investigate health insurance options. Your young adult needs to be aware of what health care coverage she has – on or off campus. She should carry a copy of the insurance card, know her allergies and medications, her medical and family medical history. He needs to be up to date on Immunizations. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend more vaccines than most campuses require, so check out the above links whether or not he’ll be continuing in school. Have a discussion about what to do in case of a health emergency. Here’s a good link from Rowan University about what college students need to bring for the best healthcare.
Help. When there are bumps in the road of growing independence, how will you help negotiate the difficulties together?

Create an environment for listening to your grown-up-child’s hopes and fears. It’s an important time for all of you, and you will navigate it together.

Screen time for computers and games

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A couple of weeks ago we dealt with content of video games here. If you missed it, check out that important information about monitoring what your kids are playing. It’s also important to supervise all computer screen time.

Make sure all the computers to which your youngster has access are in open places in the house. Search the browser history at regular intervals, and make sure you have his passwords for all social media accounts so you can check that activity. Let him know ahead of time that this is one of the rules for the privilege of using the computer and smart phone. Take a look at texts and other accounts on her phone, and remind her of safety rules:

Never give out personal information online or over the phone.
Never assume that someone you “meet” online is giving you accurate information, and never arrange to meet such a person face to face.
If you get concerned about someone contacting you, tell your parent without fear of judgment.
Never use your phone or computer for pornography (especially child pornography, which is illegal), sexting (a form of pornography), sending any inappropriate information, or for hurting or bullying someone else. If you receive such content inform a parent or teacher immediately.

In addition to content, you should be aware of time. Screen time of any kind (television, movies, computer, video games) means fewer hours are available for physical activity, face-to-face interaction, reading and homework. Screen time isn’t necessarily bad in itself, but you should monitor the amount of time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics gives great advice about video games in this online article, including the recommendation to limit video game time to one hour per day. The same goes for other types of screen time. If your teen or child is spending much more time than that in front of a screen (unless, of course, it’s for school), engage him in conversation about what other activities might take the place of some gaming hours. Allow her to choose from a list of fun ways to spend her time.

Reading. If your children don’t like to read, read to or with them. Pick an age-appropriate book and take turns reading pages or chapters. Bedtime is great for this.
Physical activity. One of the problems of screen time is its sedentary nature. Inactivity leads to weight gain and all sorts of accompanying health issues. Get your youngster involved in a team or individual sport. Go walking or swimming. Shoot hoops in the driveway or play catch in the backyard.
Board games. Remember Candy Land? Connect Four? Pictionary? Games are widely available and great fun. They afford great opportunities for interaction, and for learning life skills like winning, losing, and cooperation.
Face time. Not the phone app, the real face time. Find something you and your teen can share and enjoy: cooking, eating, hiking, stamp collecting, whatever works for you. Time invested is time well-spent. You will reap the rewards in getting to know your child better, and they will reap the rewards in knowing you.
Channel that interest in computers to online learning games, or learning video games. Check out learning games on Amazon, or try one of the websites like Adapted Mind, where you can get a 30 day free trial of games for grades 1-6 (if you continue on with membership there’s a monthly fee).

Bottom line: be in charge of what your children do, even if they aren’t always in favor of your monitoring and limits. It’s your job, and you are aiding in their full development.

Video games—pay attention to what your kids are playing

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As technology increases at home and school, video games have increased in number. Each year they become more realistic-looking and exciting. But they are also often violent, and may contain language and themes inappropriate for your youngster.

Playing video games has benefits, to be certain. They help young people learn eye-hand coordination and computer skills, things they will need to keep up in the modern world.

But there are down sides, too. Big ones. Questions and concerns about content top the list, but you should also be aware that many online games require the sharing of personal information and location.

First, content. The debate continues regarding whether or not violent video games encourage violent behavior. Opinions abound, but the bottom line is that you should monitor and decide what your child or teen can or cannot play. In addition to violence, language and themes may often be too adult.

Understand ratings. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) rates virtually all video games in terms of content, age-appropriateness, and interactive elements (including whether or not location and other information is shared). All three of these areas are important.
Content and age-appropriateness. The ESRB website has a great video and also written language to help you understand ratings and how they define words such as “animated blood” and “adult humor.” The basic content and age ratings are:
- Early Childhood;
- Everyone;
- Teen (13 and up);
- Mature (17 and up);
- Adults only.
- Pay attention! Games rated “Mature” have truly adult themes (sex, violence, language) and are simply NOT appropriate for younger ages. Even those with a rating of “Teen” may surprise you with their level of violence and tasteless language.
- PREVIEW. Learn about games before you buy. This website at Common Sense Media is a great source of information. If your youngster is asking for a particular game, look for the title here to see some screen shots and other details.
- Interactive elements. If you are concerned about private information being shared, or worry your child or teen might be connecting (accidentally or purposefully) with people you don’t know, READ THIS.

One important note about violence. Whether or not your teen or child plays violent video games, you should pay attention if he exhibits violent behavior. If she is violent with you or other family members, with schoolmates or with animals, talk to your pediatrician about finding a counselor.

Bottom line: know what your child is doing, watching, playing. Video games are fun, but you need to be aware of content and privacy.

Apps to suit your life and lifestyle

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Last week we dealt with websites. Want to be more mobile? There are many apps for your smartphone or tablet that can help you keep your family healthy.

Here we’ve listed just a few to get you started, all of them inexpensive or free.

From the American Academy of Pediatrics, several great apps are available, all of which you can order here.
- KidsDoc. Cost: $1.99. This app helps you figure out what to do if your child is sick. You enter your child’s symptoms and are given advice, including options like: Call 911, Call Your Child’s Doctor Now, Call Your Child’s Doctor within 24 hours or Manage at Home. Suggestions for managing at home will tell you how to care for your child’s particular ailment.
- Car Seat Check. Cost: $1.99. Enter your child’s age, height, and weight. You’ll get reviews of appropriate car seats, installation help, and safety information.
- Healthy Children. Cost: FREE. Look up health information by age, find out what first aid is best for particular injuries, see what immunizations are needed for particular ages.
- ADHD Tracker 1.0. Cost: FREE. If your child, age 4-18, has already been diagnosed with (and treated for) ADHD, this app gives a streamlined way to complete and submit a behavioral assessment.
- Iron Kids. Cost: $3.99. Keep your child healthy and fit and sport-ready with this workout.
- Other sources and apps.
  - Ages and Stages. Cost: FREE. This app by Parenting magazine allows you to enter your own stage of pregnancy, or your child’s age, to get information tailored for you.
  - Breastfeeding Management 2. Cost: $1.99. The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition sponsors this app. You can get answers to frequently asked questions; enter your child’s age, weight, and frequency of feeding to determine how many ounces each feeding should be (especially helpful if you’re pumping); research medications and breastfeeding.

Technology and health have always gone together. These apps can keep you up to date and on top of health issues.

Artwork by Kennedy, age 2

Georgetown Pediatrics

Caring for your children.

Category Archives: parenting

Back in School, Part 3: Teachers

Back in School, Part 1: Staying Healthy

Why narcotics are prescribed carefully

Reading is fun, but what if your child has dyslexia?

E. coli and other nasty things: how to have good food safety for your cookout or picnic

Launching your senior

Apps to suit your life and lifestyle