by Stacey Schifferdecker
Childhood obesity is becoming ever more a problem not only in the United States but also in Europe and other developed countries as well. In the United States, experts estimate between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese, which means their weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for the height and body type. The statistics are just as alarming in other countries:
- From 1985 to 1995, the number of overweight and obese children in Australia more than doubled.
- Ten percent of six year olds in England are obese. If the current trend continues, half the children in England will be obese by 2020.
- 22 million of the 75 million children in the European Union are overweight. 5.1 million of these overweight children are obese.
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It’s easy to know when to take babies and toddlers to the doctor for well-baby and well-child checkups. The schedule is pretty rigid, and we have the need for immunizations to consider too. So at two weeks, two months, six months, etc. we trot off to the doctor’s office for a checkup. After two years old, it’s still easy – once a year visits are the norm and are often covered by insurance. Plus your child is still getting immunizations during these years.
But after age five, things become much less clear. Children typically don’t need any immunizations after age five or six until they are around 12. They’re not growing as fast, and you probably have fewer questions about their development. Some camp and sports activities require a physical, but otherwise, do you really need to take your children in for an annual physical or checkup?
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by Jennifer Shakeel
You know that your child has Attention Deficit Disorder, and dealing with that diagnosis on a daily basis is sometimes hard enough. What you may not realize is that with Attention Deficit Disorder, your child is also at a greater risk of having low self esteem. We all remember what is was like as a kid, kids can be mean and you are constantly wanting to measure up to the kids around you. Your child…my child is not like all of the other kids. They have ADHD and making sure that they have a strong sense of self and a good self image is extremely important.
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It’s a cliché, but like many clichés, it’s been oft-repeated because it’s true: Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, especially for kids. During the night, your body uses energy you have stored up during the day to keep your heart beating, your blood flowing, your lungs working, etc. By morning, you need some fuel to get your brains and body started. That fuel comes in the form of blood sugar, also called glucose.
Breakfast offers many specific benefits:
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It may seem trivial to some, but to a teenager, acne is a horrible affliction. While almost all teenagers get acne at one point or another, severe acne can lead to a negative body image and even severe depression. But don’t get worried; there are steps you can take to help your child get treated and start feeling better.
There are many myths floating around about acne. Your child may hear them at school or find them on the internet. To properly treat your teen’s acne, you need to learn the facts and share them with your child. Here are just a few facts you need to know:
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by Jennifer Shakeel
The purpose of this article is to let you know that the fact your child has ADD/ADHD has nothing to do with your parenting skills. ADD/ADHD is not a result of good or bad child rearing skills. I say this because I know you wonder, just as I did, “What did I do wrong that my poor child has to suffer with this?”
Some of you may wonder if ADD/ADHD is genetic. The answer to that question is yes it can be. There are many different reasons a child develops ADD/ADHD, we are going to look at the genetic reasons. You need to know that there are many experts in the field that believe ADHD has a very strong genetic basis. They also believe that genetics plays a big role in most cases of ADHD. It appears to be more common amongst people that have a close family relative that has ADHD.
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by Jennifer Shakeel
Imagine standing in an open field and having thousands of bees and flies surrounding you while loud music and hundreds of lights flashing all around you. What do you feel like now? Overwhelmed, unable to focus, nervous… you may be throwing your arms to swat away the bugs, trying to plug your ears to escape the noise or cover your eyes to get away from the flashing lights. That is what it is like inside your child with ADD/ADHD. While you are trying to escape all of those sensory triggers your child is trying to pay attention to each and every one of them all at the same time.
Understanding what it is like for your child with ADD/ADHD can make all the difference in whether parenting is a frustrating and draining experience or an amazing and exciting experience. I am a parent of a child that has ADD/ADHD and while it has been a long road, it has been a rewarding and exciting one despite the perception of the world around us.
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by Stacey Schifferdecker
Experts estimate that by the year 2010, almost 50 percent of children in North America will be overweight. We know why – kids gain weight for the same reasons adults gain weight: too much food and not enough exercise. And while we are probably all behind the drives to remove junk food and soda vending machines from our schools, are we similarly vigilant about the food in our homes?
Separate Snacks from Treats
A dietician once spoke at my children’s preschool and explained to us the very logical distinction she makes for her children between “snacks” and “treats.”
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The traditional image of the post-school hour is children skipping home to enjoy a glass of cold milk and some fresh-from-the-oven cookies. The reality is, most of us moms spend our days working at a job, running errands, or volunteering at our kids’ schools. The kids don’t walk or skip home – we pick them up or they go to an after-care program. And unless you just enjoy baking, your kids may only have fresh-from-the-oven cookies after you buy frozen cookie dough from the latest school fundraiser.
Does this change in lifestyle mean kids don’t need or want after-school snacks anymore? Absolutely not! Children need to eat every three to four hours to replenish their energy stores. With school lunch hours starting as early as 10:30 in some schools, your kids are likely to be famished by the time they get home from school.
Here are some ideas for easy, healthy after-school snacks for millennial moms:
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by Tina Matsunaga
Despite the best preemptive care, many physically disabled individuals often require, at least, one invasive surgery. Especially during the growing years, surgery may be necessary to avoid additional mobility problems in the future. For example, spastic muscles have the power to dislocate hips and distort the directional functioning of joints. Knees may eventually knock together, making ambulation virtually impossible. Sometimes, other internal systems have need of surgery to repair a problem. Naturally, the prospect of surgery is scary. However, parents can help a child prepare for surgery in three important ways: explain why, how, and when the surgery is necessary. Here are a few tips:
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