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How to Regulate TV Watching for your Children

Watching TV is a part of our daily routine for the majority of America. It can relax us, keeps us informed about what’s happening in the world, and is a good distraction for the kiddos when Mom needs 5 minutes to go take a shower and take a deep breath.

TV can also open up to new worlds that can refresh us from our daily lives. However, when it comes to our children, is TV watching healthy? Though there are several benefits to watching TV, there are also certain drawbacks that should be avoided – or at least taken into consideration. To help you make sure that your child can get the best out of TV watching, here are a few tips below:

  • Turn off the TV when no one is watching. This will send a message to your children about the functionality of the TV, and not just something you can turn on and leave for background noise all the time.
  • Watch TV with your child. Not only will it create a bonding moment for both of you, you will also know what your child is watching. That way, you can evaluate whether the show is indeed appropriate or not, and if not – explain why.
  • Be in the control of the channel. You have the discreSharing Parenting Duties Successfullytion to change the channel and not allow anyone to change the channel. This way, your child will know who is in authority and will follow your rules in TV watching.
  • Create rules when to watch TV. Always be clear on these rules as these can affect how your child will react and seek the TV. Set rules like no watching TV during meals or when you are not around.
  • Avoid using TV as a reward. This will only increase the value of TV on your children and thus think of the box as something rewarding.
  • If at all possible, don’t over use the TV as a distraction or a babysitter. That box is not an alternative solution for babies who often cry. Do not make it a habit to turn on the TV just because your child needs to be entertained. Find other alternatives like reading books or playing with their toys.
  • Do not add a TV in their bedroom. This will only increase their desire to test your other rules you have put into place, and distract them from things like reading, and homework.
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6 Benefits of Summer Camp

Summer Camp

If you can recall being a camper or remember working as a camp counselor, then you know the benefits of day camp. But if you never had a camp experience, you may not realize how important camp can be for children. You may consider a few of the following reasons to send your children to camp.

 

Here are Six Benefits to Summer Day Camp

 

  1. Campers spend the day being active. Let’s get moving! Children run, jump, swim, and so much more! Camp is the perfect place to learn active games that children can teach their families at home. Campers learn the value of spending more time active and outside and less time in front of electronic screens.

 

  1. Campers learn social and leadership skills and increase their self-confidence and ability to work with others.  Through leadership and team building events, such as scavenger hunts or solving mysteries, Campers focus on purposeful activities and grow and mature through the process.

 

  1. Campers have free time for unstructured play. Being a part of a camp can ease the daily dose of routine children receive during the rest of the year. It’s less structured than school and competitive sports leagues but just enough to motivate campers to try new things.

 

  1. Campers make friends. Camp is a low-pressure atmosphere where friendships are formed. Camps that stress“Getting to Know You” and “Friendship Building” activities help children develop bonds.  In doing so, they focus on both themselves and their relationships with friends and family.

 

  1. Campers develop life-long skills. The variety of activities provided allows campers to discover and develop what they like to do. When Campers receive instruction and equipment for various projects, it’s up to them to decide which skills they are interested in learning. Camps that sponsor food-drives, bake sales, and service projects, instill a commitment to giving back to the community and teach campers to think beyond themselves.

 

  1. Happy Campers, make for Happy Families. Parents of Campers get the pleasure knowing that each day their child is engaged, active, making friends, and learning new skills and hobbies. Camps that fill the summer with such family events as talent shows, camp tournaments, trivia nights, movies, and Club Showcases help provide families with memories to last a lifetime.
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The Power of Reading – Infants

Reading to your child every day is the best single way to ensure that he or she develops a lifelong love for reading. The key is to introduce your child to books that are developmentally appropriate and to share your love of reading through daily reading together. This creates a lasting bond and a time you will both cherish.

The love of books can begin in the first year of life. Babies love to sit on the lap of someone they love and look together with them at pictures in a book. At first, they are simply content to hear the sound of their loved one’s voice telling them about what they see. The baby responds with smiles, gaze at the adult, and then a reach for the book.

The Power of Reading: InfantsThe best books for babies are made of cloth or vinyl and include large realistic photographs of familiar objects, animals, or people. As babies get old enough to imitate their favorite adult, they will attempt to turn the pages, sometimes forward and sometimes back. This is okay. The baby is learning how books work. The adult should point at pictures and name them. The baby will eventually point too, make a sound that may or may not resemble the name for the picture, and then look at the adult for reassurance. This back and forth interaction about the content of the book is the beginning of understanding that the picture symbols on the page can stand for objects in real life.

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How to keep kids warm, healthy and safe

Winter can bring lots of family fun — whether this involves sledding and romping around in the snow or just hanging around together at home. Here are a few ideas I give to parents to keep their kids warm, healthy and safe during winter.

How to dress your kids (not like little adults)

Parents with babies and younger kids should:

1. Adjust winter clothes for children’s needs. Dress babies and young children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.

2. Keep exposure to the cold at a minimum.
and young children don’t have the same tolerance for cold that adults do. It’s important to limit time outside.

3. Don’t forget winter accessories. Remember warm boots, gloves or mittens and a hat, which make a big difference in keeping young children and babies comfortable.

Simple ways to avoid winter colds

It’s a common myth that cold weather causes colds, but it does not. Colds are caused mainly by viruses that we are more commonly exposed to in the winter.

Viruses are spread even more easily when children are in school and in close contact with each other, typically through respiratory droplets in the air and on hands.

Prevent colds and the flu by getting kids to:

4. Use soap and water. Washing their hands frequently will reduce the spread of germs.

5. Cover their mouth. Sneezing or coughing into the bend of their elbows also helps prevent spreading germs.

6. Get immunized. Keep vaccinations current, including the flu shot (for children 6 months and older).

Be safe on sleds and snow tubes

7. Always supervise children. Injuries can occur quickly when kids are sledding or snow tubing. It’s important to keep a close eye on them.

8. Keep away from motor vehicles. Often, sledding hills are not far from highways or roads. It’s important to keep a safe distance.

9. Sled in proper ‘form.’ Kids can prevent injuries by sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first.

10. Find a clear area. Pick a sledding location that is clear of obstructions like trees or fences and is covered in snow.

11. Choose a good sledding hill. A sledding hill should not be too steep, with a slope of less than 30 degrees, and should end with a flat runoff.

Be safe on skis and snow boards

12. Dress in layers. If you begin to sweat, remove layers as needed to stay dry. Wet clothes can cause your body to chill and can lead to hypothermia or frostbite.

13. Wear a helmet. It’s important to protect your head from injury.

14. Protect skin. Keep your skin from being exposed to harsh temperatures to avoid frostbite. Be especially careful with small areas of your body, such as your hands, feet and ears.

15. Be aware of weather conditions. Consider going inside if the temperature drops below 0 degrees F (-17.8 C).

Be aware of frostbite symptoms. If you notice your child skin turning red or becoming numb, move to a warmer location and protect them from further exposure. Use warm water or blankets to raise their body temperature.

In winter, there are lots of options for fun. Enjoy the snow, and stay safe.

for more information, visit health.clevelandclinic.org