Health and Safety
Child Passenger Safety: Get the Facts
How do vaccines help babies fight infections? How Vaccines Work
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
People with ASD often have problems with social, emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not want change in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood and typically last throughout a person’s life.
Children or adults with ASD might:
- not point at objects to show interest (for example, not point at an airplane flying over)
- not look at objects when another person points at them
- have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all
- avoid eye contact and want to be alone
- have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
- prefer not to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only when they want to
- appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds
- be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play, or relate to them
- repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language
- have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions
- not play “pretend” games (for example, not pretend to “feed” a doll)
- repeat actions over and over again
- have trouble adapting when a routine changes
- have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound
- lose skills they once had (for example, stop saying words they were using)
Learn about developmental milestones that young children should reach
Information provided by the Center for Disease Control – cdc.gov
Keeping Children Safe
What is ADHD?
Signs and Symptoms
It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends.
A child with ADHD might:
- daydream a lot
- forget or lose things a lot
- squirm or fidget
- talk too much
- make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
- have a hard time resisting temptation
- have trouble taking turns
- have difficulty getting along with others
Learn more about signs and symptoms
Types
There are three different types of ADHD, depending on which types of symptoms are strongest in the individual:
- Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others.
- Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person.
Because symptoms can change over time, the presentation may change over time as well.
Causes of ADHD
Scientists are studying cause(s) and risk factors in an effort to find better ways to manage and reduce the chances of a person having ADHD. The cause(s) and risk factors for ADHD are unknown, but current research shows that genetics plays an important role. Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD.1
In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including:
- Brain injury
- Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age
- Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy
- Premature delivery
- Low birth weight
Research does not support the popularly held views that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos. Of course, many things, including these, might make symptoms worse, especially in certain people. But the evidence is not strong enough to conclude that they are the main causes of ADHD.
Diagnosis
Deciding if a child has ADHD is a process with several steps. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other problems, like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms. One step of the process involves having a medical exam, including hearing and vision tests, to rule out other problems with symptoms like ADHD. Diagnosing ADHD usually includes a checklist for rating ADHD symptoms and taking a history of the child from parents, teachers, and sometimes, the child.
Learn more about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD
Treatments
In most cases, ADHD is best treated with a combination of behavior therapy and medication. For preschool-aged children (4-5 years of age) with ADHD, behavior therapy, particularly training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment before medication is tried. What works best can depend on the child and family. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups, and making changes, if needed, along the way.
Managing Symptoms: Staying Healthy
Being healthy is important for all children and can be especially important for children with ADHD. In addition to behavioral therapy and medication, having a healthy lifestyle can make it easier for your child to deal with ADHD symptoms. Here are some healthy behaviors that may help:
- Developing healthy eating habits such as eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and choosing lean protein sources
- Participating in daily physical activity based on age
- Limiting the amount of daily screen time from TVs, computers, phones, and other electronics
- Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night based on age
- National Resource Center on ADHDexternal
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)external
- The Network of Care of Chemung County (New York)external – Information on ADHD in American Sign Language (ASL)
Get Help!
If you or your doctor has concerns about ADHD, you can take your child to a specialist such as a child psychologist, child psychiatrist, or developmental pediatrician, or you can contact your local early intervention agency (for children under 3) or public school (for children 3 and older).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds the National Resource Center on ADHDexternal, a program of CHADD – Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Their website has links to information for people with ADHD and their families. The National Resource Center operates a call center (1-866-200-8098) with trained staff to answer questions about ADHD.
For more information on services for children with special needs, visit the Center for Parent Information and Resources.external To find the Parent Center near you, you can visit this website.external ADHD in Adults
ADHD can last into adulthood. Some adults have ADHD but have never been diagnosed. The symptoms can cause difficulty at work, at home, or with relationships. Symptoms may look different at older ages, for example, hyperactivity may appear as extreme restlessness. Symptoms can become more severe when the demands of adulthood increase. For more information about diagnosis and treatment throughout the lifespan, please visit the websites of the National Resource Center on ADHDexternal and the National Institutes of Mental Healthexternal
More Information
- National Resource Center on ADHDexternal
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)external
- The Network of Care of Chemung County (New York)external – Information on ADHD in American Sign Language (ASL)
Reference
- Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., Zheng, Y., Biederman, J., Bellgrove, M. A., . . . Wang, Y. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 evidence-based conclusions about the disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022
Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays
Safer Travel Tips for Families with Unvaccinated Children
CDC recommends delaying travel until you are able to get fully vaccinated. If you are traveling with children who cannot get vaccinated at this time, follow recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated and choose the safer travel options described below.
Check CDC’s Domestic Travel or International Travel pages for the latest recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth in public. Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).
- Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you.
- Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60%) alcohol.
People You Come into Contact with During Travel
Safer
- Contact with just members of your household.
- Contact with only fully vaccinated people.
Less Safe
- Close contact with people who are not fully vaccinated who are not from your household
Avoid
- Crowds
Transportation
During car travel, making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. If traveling in a RV, you may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but you could still be in close contact with others while staying at RV parks overnight and while getting gas and supplies.
Traveling on buses and trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet/2 meters of others, which may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. If you choose to travel by bus or train, learn what you can do to protect yourself on public transportation.
Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, keeping your distance is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet/2 meters of others, sometimes for hours, may make you more likely to get COVID-19.
Safer
- Short road trips with members of your household or fully vaccinated people with few stops along the way
- If you must fly, try to take flights with the fewest stops or layovers
Less Safe
- Longer trips by car or RV with many stops along the way
- Trips by car or RV with people who are not vaccinated or not from your household
- Flights with layovers
Avoid
- Long-distance train or bus trips
- Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat
Check your accommodations’ COVID-19 prevention practices before you go.
Safer
- Staying in a house or cabin (for example, a vacation rental) with people from your household or fully vaccinated people
- Visiting a fully vaccinated family member’s or friend’s home
Less Safe
- Hotels or multi-unit guest lodgings with common areas (e.g., bed and breakfasts)
- Visiting an unvaccinated family member’s or friend’s home
- Renting or staying in a house or cabin (for example, a vacation rental) with people that are not vaccinated or not in your household
Avoid
- Sharing spaces with many people or sharing bathroom facilities (for example, a dormitory-style hostel)
Before dining at a restaurant, check the restaurant’s COVID-19 prevention practices.
Safer
- Bringing your own food and drinks.
- Getting takeout.
- Using drive-thru, delivery, and curbside pick-up options and wearing a mask when interacting with restaurant employees.
Less Safe
- Eating outside at a restaurant where social distancing is possible and servers and other staff wear masks.
- Eating inside at a restaurant that is well ventilated, where social distancing is possible, servers and other restaurant staff wear masks, and diners wear masks when not actively eating or drinking.
Avoid
- Eating inside restaurants that are poorly ventilated, where social distancing is not possible, servers and staff do not wear masks, and diners do not wear masks when not actively eating or drinking.
- Self-service options that require extensive touching of surfaces, such as buffets.
Safer
- Camping with people who are fully vaccinated or from your household only and not sharing facilities with persons outside of your household.
Less Safe
- Camping with people who are fully vaccinated or people from your household only, but sharing facilities with people outside of your household, where distancing at least 6 feet/2 meters is not possible.
- Sharing tents or cabins with friends or family who are not vaccinated or in your household.
- Interacting outside with people who are not wearing masks but are keeping at least 6 feet/2 meters apart.
Avoid
- Camping in large dormitory-style settings with many people and shared facilities.
- Interacting outside or indoors with people who are not wearing masks and are not keeping at least 6 feet/2 meters apart.
How to Get Your Children to Go to Bed
I have two young children and have been through this experience myself. My daughter especially needs her sleep and can be very moody in the mornings if she has not had enough sleep. As a parent, it can become very frustrating and upsetting when you see your child crying because they do not want to go to bed. Comments like, please, dad, just one more program or game were far too regular, and at times I felt like backing down.
I have learned from reading many books on parenting how to best deal with this situation. Each child now has a set time when they have to be in bed. This is a time that they have both agreed.
They get changed into their pajamas around half an hour before this time and can either spend that period playing with their toys or watching the television. If they want to play, we ensure that the games are relaxing ones and not too energetic.
If there is a program that is on later than their agreed bedtimes, I agree to record it for them; this way, they know that they are not missing out.
I have agreed that I will read them a story at bedtime. This is something they both love and helps them to wind down and relax. They are also given a drink of water before bed. Therefore there is no need for them to keep coming downstairs for a drink of water after bedtime.
I have explained to each child the importance of sleep and that it should be something to enjoy and not see as punishment. I have even gone as far as saying that I would love to go to bed when they do; unfortunately, I have things to prepare for the next day.
I have tried to make their bedrooms their special place. A place that they find fun, relaxing, and comfortable.
My son likes to hear music, so we play his favorite songs in his room. The volume is set quite low, and this certainly helps him to get to sleep quite quickly.
These tips have helped make our children’s bedtimes a pleasant experience, where it once was a struggle. The children themselves are now into a routine, a routine they are happy with. I hope this advice proves useful to you as well. Good luck.
Keep Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Teach and reinforce everyday preventive actions
Wash hands
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, and encourage your child to do the same. Read more and watch a video on how to wash hands correctly.
If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Teach your child to cover all surfaces of their hands with hand sanitizer and rub their hands together until they feel dry. If your child is under 6 years of age, supervise them when they use hand sanitizer.
Wear a mask
Make sure everyone in your household wears a mask (if 2 years of age or older) when in public and when around people who don’t live in your household. Ensure your child wears their masks correctly and safely.
Some children may find it challenging to wear a mask. If your child finds it challenging, you can consider alternatives.
Avoid close contact
Make sure your child and everyone else in your household keep at least 6 feet away from other people who don’t live with them and people who are sick (such as coughing and sneezing).
Cover coughs and sneezes
When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, throw your tissue in closest garbage can, and wash your hands. Encourage your child and all household members to do the same.
Bring your child for their healthcare visits
Routine well-child visits and vaccine visits are essential, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prepare for your child’s healthcare visits
- Call your child’s healthcare provider to ask about any upcoming appointments or to ask when your child’s vaccinations are due.
- Ask your child’s healthcare provider what steps they are taking to separate healthy patients from those who may be sick. Some healthcare providers may choose to delay in-person visits, which will be based on the situation in your community and your child’s individual care plan.
- Notify your child’s healthcare provider before your visit if you or your child have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Bring your child for well-child visits and vaccine visits
Your child’s healthcare provider will check your child’s growth and development at well-child visits. You can also track your child’s developmental milestones with CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app.
Vaccines are an important part of keeping your child healthy by protecting them against vaccine-preventable diseases. There are effective vaccines for illnesses such as measles, flu (influenza), whooping cough (pertussis), and other diseases that can spread from person to person. Although there is not yet a vaccine to help protect against COVID-19, your child should receive all of their recommended vaccines.
Get a flu vaccine by the end of October
A flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent flu.
CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine each year by the end of October (with rare exceptions). You and your child can get a flu vaccine during healthcare visits, or you can find additional locations at vaccinefinder.orgexternal icon.
Getting a flu vaccine can reduce the likelihood of your child getting sick, being hospitalized, or dying from flu. You and your family getting a flu vaccine will also help protect others around you who may be more vulnerable to severe illness from flu, like babies and young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with certain medical conditions.
It is especially important for this upcoming flu season to help prevent over-burdening the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and flu are both infectious illnesses that can affect breathing and have similar symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses. Learn more about similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19.
More about flu:
- Know the emergency warning signs of flu and seek medical care immediately if your child has any of these symptoms
- Children & Flu
- Flu Information for Parents
- Frequently Asked Questions on Flu for the 2020-2021 Season
Help your child stay active
Regular physical activity can improve your child’s physical and mental health.
- Ensure your child stays active every day while taking everyday preventive actions. Learn more about how much physical activity your child should get daily.
- Find ways to make physical activity a part of your child’s life.
- Set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle yourself and making physical activity a part of your family’s daily routine.
Help your child stay socially connected
- Reach out to friends and family via phone or video chats.
- Write cards or letters to family members who they may not be able to visit.
- Check to see if your child’s school has tips and guidelines to help support social and emotional needs of your child. Some schools and non-profits, such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learningexternal iconand The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligenceexternal icon, have resources for social and emotional learning.
Help your child cope with stress
The COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful for both adults and children. Learn more about signs of stress in children, ways to support your child, and how to take care of your own mental health.
CDC has also developed several tools to help you care for your child’s mental health and well-being. COVID-19 Parental Resource Kit offers tools to help you understand your child’s social, emotional, and mental health challenges according to their age group and promote their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and preschoolers page provides guidance on how to address common parenting challenges, like tantrums and whining, and information on things you can do to build a positive, healthy relationship with your young children.
Ask about school meal services
Check with your child’s school on plans to continue meal services if school is closed to in-person learning for some or all students. Many schools may continue to provide meals in different ways, such as allowing families to pick up meals at the school or providing grab-and-go meals at other locations.
Consider taking extra precautions
In addition to following the recommendations above, consider taking extra precautions if your child has a disability or a developmental or behavioral disorder.