Child Development

COVID-19 Parents Supporting Children

Posted on: 06.16.20 | by ChildCareOwner

Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.

Watch for behavior changes in your child

Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include:

Excessive crying or irritation in younger children.
Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).
Excessive worry or sadness.
Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits.
Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.
Poor school performance or avoiding school.
Difficulty with attention and concentration.
Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.
Unexplained headaches or body pain.
Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Ways to support your child

Talk with your child about the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child can understand.
Reassure your child that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.
Spending time with your child in meaningful activities, reading together, exercising, playing board games.

Actively Listening to Your Child

Posted on: 02.25.20 | by ChildCareOwner

Communicating with our children can be a difficult task at times. We feel like they’re not listening to us; they feel like we’re not listening to them. Good listening and communication skills are essential to successful parenting. Your child’s feelings, views, and opinions have worth, and you should make sure you take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly.

It seems to be a natural tendency to react rather than to respond. We pass judgment based on our feelings and experiences. However, responding means being receptive to our child’s feelings and emotions and allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us. By reacting, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions are invalid. But by responding and asking questions about why the child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows them to discuss their feelings further and allows you a better understanding of where they’re coming from. Responding also allows you to work out a solution or a plan of action with your child that perhaps they would not have come up with on their own. Your child will also appreciate the fact that maybe you do indeed understand how they feel.

It’s crucial in these situations to give your child your full and undivided attention. Put down your newspaper, stop doing dishes, or turn off the television so you can hear the full situation and make eye contact with your child. Keep calm, be inquisitive, and afterward offer potential solutions to the problem.

Don’t discourage your child from feeling upset, angry, or frustrated. Our initial instinct may be to say or do something to steer our child away from it, but this can be a detrimental tactic. Again, listen to your child, ask questions to find out why they are feeling that way, and then offer potential solutions to alleviate the bad feeling.

Just as we do, our children have feelings and experience difficult situations. By actively listening and participating with our child as they talk about it, it demonstrates to them that we do care, we want to help, and we have similar experiences of our own that they can draw on. Remember, respond – don’t react.

Children’s Oral Health

Posted on: 01.24.20 | by ChildCareOwner

Overview

Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.

About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.¹
1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.¹
Children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11%).¹

The good news is that cavities are preventable. Fluoride varnish can prevent about one-third (33%) of cavities in the primary (baby) teeth.² Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer cavities than children whose water is not fluoridated.³ Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have fewer cavities.⁴

Dental sealants can also prevent cavities for many years. Applying dental sealants to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth prevent 80% of cavities.⁵

What Parents and Caregivers Can Do

For Babies

Wipe gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed to wipe away bacteria and sugars that can cause cavities.

When teeth come in, start brushing twice a day with a soft, small‑bristled toothbrush and plain water.

Visit the dentist by your baby’s first birthday to spot signs of problems early.

Talk to your dentist or doctor about putting fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.

For children younger than 2, consult first with your doctor or dentist regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste.

For Children

Brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Drink tap water that contains fluoride.

Ask your child’s dentist to apply dental sealants when appropriate.

If your child is younger than 6, watch them brush.
Make sure they use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow. Help your child brush until they have good brushing skills.

Good Dental Health Is Important for Pregnant Women

When you’re pregnant, you may be more prone to gum disease and cavities, which can affect your baby’s health. Follow these 3 steps to protect your teeth:

See a dentist (it’s safe!) before you deliver

Brush twice a day

Floss Daily

If you have nausea, rinse your mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water after you get sick. This helps wash stomach acid away and keep your tooth enamel safe.

Infographic

Infant Oral Health Information

English – Click to Download

Spanish – Click to Download

Helmet Safety

Posted on: 09.28.19 | by ChildCareOwner

Your Child’s or Teen’s Helmet

Your child’s helmet should fit properly and be:

Well maintained
Age appropriate
Worn consistently and correctly
Appropriately certified for use

While there is no concussion-proof helmet, a helmet can help protect your child or teen from a serious brain or head injury. Even with a helmet, it is important for your child or teen to avoid hits to the head.