Archive for the 'school' Category

What Does the “End of Men” Mean for Boys?

Published on July 20, 2010 in Parenting, Uncategorized and school. 0 Comments

Having both a son and daughter, I took interest in a recent article in The Atlantic that is getting a lot of press: “The End of Men.” It is an interesting look at the evolution of roles that men and women play in society. The world around us is changing. Earlier this year, women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in U.S. history. The attributes that seem most valuable today—social intelligence, open communication, the ability to sit still and focus—are, at a minimum, not predominantly male.

Some facts they point out are the following: Continue reading ‘What Does the “End of Men” Mean for Boys?’

Keep Learning Going While Having Fun Over the Summer



Published on June 24, 2010 in Parenting, Uncategorized and school. 0 Comments

School is out and summer is here. This means lots of fun play time for the kids but it also means finding things for them to do that stimulate continued learning during the summer months. My family has already made its first trip of many to the Redmond library to check out some books for my daughter to read and for us grown ups to read to my son. My daughter was very excited to learn about the summer reading program at the King County Libraries and is progressing along well in the goal for  summer reading.

As difficult as it can be, we do try to find time every day to sit down and either read to them our encourage them to read on their own. It was not that surprising to me a few days ago when my daughter came and asked me to help her with her “math homework” which is really something she just wanted to learn more about on her own initiative.

Most of us want to raise children that can satisfy their own desires. Many children will say they are bored and no matter what idea we throw out there, none are sufficient. These days my answer to our daughter is that “we raised a bright child and I am sure you can find something constructive to occupy your time.”

There are lots of other creative ways that I am sure many of you use to help your children learn while having fun this summer. I would love to hear them.

Does it Help to Start Kids Early or Hold Them Back?

Published on June 1, 2010 in school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

It seems that every year about this time, the question of whether to have their toddler start school early comes up from parents who have children who have a birthday that misses the school cut off for the next fall enrollment. This is a complex question, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. There’s so much more involved in this decision than the child’s cognitive ability. Having a good confidence building experience can lay the foundation for future success at school. Where that child is at developmentally and socially also needs to be factored into the equation.

With my daughter, Continue reading ‘Does it Help to Start Kids Early or Hold Them Back?’

When Disaster Strikes

Published on January 21, 2010 in Parenting, Prevention, Safety, Vaccine, Vitamins and school. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Certainly there is a lot going on in the world right now and it is impossible for our children to not hear about disasters that are occurring. Haiti is just a recent example.

Depending on the age, it is very appropriate to limit children’s exposure to graphic images of disaster victim’s devastation that are all over the news right now. This can be quite overwhelming to a child and needs to be done with care. Continue reading ‘When Disaster Strikes’

The Booster Seat

Published on October 20, 2009 in Safety and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

A common question that comes up in clinic is around when to transition to a booster seat. Typically for most children it is around 4 years of age. In our household we initially did this at 4 but briefly transitioned back to a traditional car seat because with my active daughter, the shoulder strap was everywhere but her shoulder.

In Washington State, all children need to be in a safety seat until 8 years of age or at least 57 inches (4′9″). Very few children in this State will be at the height requirement under 8 years of age. For children under 13 years of age, it is also recommended that they be transported in the rear seats.

A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics supports the use of booster seats in children 4-8 years of age.  Below is the link and the article.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE59I4BE20091019?sp=true

Study reaffirms benefit of car booster seats

Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:19pm EDT
By Megan Brooks

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Using a booster seat instead of just a seat belt significantly reduces the risk of injury in children aged 4 to 8 years old who are involved in a car crash, according to an updated assessment of booster seat effectiveness released today. Continue reading ‘The Booster Seat’

Thimerosal and Vaccines

Published on October 13, 2009 in Kidsquest, Prevention, Vaccine, Vitamins and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Since the recent announcement that Washington State is lifting the ban on thimerosal in order to vaccinate children against influenza H1N1 otherwise known as swine flu, I have been asked many questions on this topic.

The ultimate question is “is the vaccine safe” and “what about thimerosal”? The quick answer is that getting the H1N1 vaccine is important. The scientific literature does not support an association between thimerosal and autism. When the vaccine becomes available, I have no concerns about my children getting whatever form of the vaccine is available.

Some background on Thimerosal from the CDC and FDA websites. Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930s. There is no convincing scientific evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academyof Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.

Thimerosal, which is approximately 50% mercury by weight, has been one of the most widely used preservatives in vaccines. It is metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is an organomercurial that should be distinguished from methylmercury, a related substance that has been the focus of considerable study.

Evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association. Furthermore, a scientific review* by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that “the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.” CDC supports the IOM conclusion.

The above is from the FDA website

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/updates/thimerosal.htm

Backpack photo

Published on September 24, 2009 in Prevention and school. 0 Comments Tags: .

This week I wrote about my daughter’s giant backpack…Here’s the photo I should have added.

Daughter's Giant Backpack

Daughter's Giant Backpack

 

Back to School and the Backpack

Published on September 22, 2009 in Prevention, Safety and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Yesterday I looked at my daughter with her school backpack on and realized it was quite large compared to her size. Fortunately there were not many things inside it, yet…..

It is important for parents to make sure that their child is not carrying more than they should be.

Below is what the American Academy of Pediatrics has to say on this topic.

BACKPACK SAFETY

  • Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
  • Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the your child’s body weight.
  • Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
  • Consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.

My Shins Hurt

Published on August 4, 2009 in Safety and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

School is just around the corner which means another season of sports and activities.  I am seeing lots of children coming in for their well visits which provides an opportunity to talk about injury prevention.  A common one in shin splints  which typically occur from a repetitive pounding type activity such as running. Starting the training period too aggressively does not allow the body to adjust. There is a lot to the old saying that slow and steady wins the race.

 

 

Shin Splints

Shin splints is a generic term referring to pain along the shin bone caused by an inflammation of tendons and muscles of the shin. Shin splints are very common and often preventable. Most cases of shin splints can be treated with RICE-Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This treatment is easy …but hard. Hard because a big part of getting better is rest—not a fun thing for most kids. Also important is ensuring your child has properly fitting footwear with plenty of impact-absorbing material in the foot and heel area.