Posts Tagged ‘
back to school ’
Thursday, September 8th, 2011
Move over dad: Mom’s better at soothing baby’s pain
Preemies show less pain when mom holds them than when dad tries to comfort them, according to a new study of babies having blood drawn at the hospital.
Nutrient powder may fight anemia in kids
Kids given extra iron, zinc and vitamin A were one third less likely to be anemic, study finds.
What teachers really want to tell parents
Ron Clark, a teacher who started his own school, asks parents to work with teachers for the sake of their kids.
Are Parents Changing Kids’ Diapers Less Often to Save Money?
Over the past couple of years, sales of disposable diapers have fallen at the same time that diaper rash cream sales have increased.
Children excluded from school shopping?
Only 56 percent of parents say they’re bringing their kids along for back-to-school shopping this year, down from 80 percent last year, according to marketing data firm America’s Research Group.
Bilingual Homes Help Babies Exercise Their Brain: Study
Babies living in bilingual homes have a longer period of time when their brain is flexible to different languages than infants living where just one language is spoken, researchers say.
Categories: GoodyBlog, News | Tags: anemia, back to school, being a mom, bilingual, diapers, economy, nutrient powder, recession, school, school shopping, teachers
Monday, August 15th, 2011
As your child heads to school, make an appointment with the pediatrician to have her receive the necessary immunizations required by your state. Vaccines guard your child against illnesses and diseases that may be encountered outside the home. Parents.com consulted Dr. Daniel McGee of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI to find out what parents should know about immunizations.
Why are immunizations and vaccinations necessary and still important?
The illnesses that are included in the vaccines are real, not just something that occurred in grandma’s day. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there have been more 150 cases of measles in the United States this year, as well as thousands of cases of whooping cough. Measles outbreaks are occurring more frequently than in previous years.
What are some diseases easily preventable by vaccinations? How effective are vaccinations against these diseases?
Measles, chicken pox, whooping cough as well as certain types of pneumonia and meningitis are the most common vaccine preventable diseases. Immunized children who come down with an illness will usually have a less severe sickness.
Are there any vaccinations parents or adults should get to protect their family?
The only way to prevent whooping cough in children, particularly those under six months of age, is to make sure everyone who will come in contact with them is immunized. This is a concept known as “cocooning.” In fact, 75 percent of the time when an infant comes down with whooping cough, it comes from a parent, sibling, or grandparent.
As kids head to school, are there any new immunization protocols? What should parents be aware of?
Immunization schedules change each year. Although not a new shot, there is a new recommendation that adolescents receive a booster dose of the meningitis vaccine if they received their first dose before age 16. Every person aged 6 months and up should also receive the flu vaccine.
What are the vaccinations all schools require? What are the vaccinations children should always get?
This varies from state to state. The best thing to do is follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. With the exception of the HPV vaccine, almost all of the shots recommended by the AAP are required for school.
More About Immunizations and Vaccinations
Categories: Health & Safety, Must Read, school, Your Child | Tags: AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics, back to school, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV vaccination, immunization, immunizations, measles, school, vaccination, vaccine, vaccines, whooping cough
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
We found one more way to help you get ready for another school year. Starting with the September Back-to-School issue, print subscribers can receive free iPad editions of Parents magazine. Head to the App Store for tablet extras like Playroom, where you can discover the latest and greatest books, toys, music, and more.
After you download the app, tap the red button under “Current Subscribers.” Then log in with your mailing address or account number (the 10-digit number printed on the mailing label above your name). You will be asked to enter your name and email–preferably the same account you use to register on Parents.com.
If you downloaded the app before Aug. 5, update it and follow all prompts. You won’t be able to subscribe via the old version of the app.
Not currently a print subscriber? No worries. You can get an annual digital-only subscription for $9.99! Customer service can be reached at 1-800-727-3682.
UPDATE: Some iPad users have reported that they can view only the first page of each story. If you’re experiencing this problem, it may be because you’re stuck in horizontal mode. Change to portrait mode, close out of the app, and re-open it. That should resolve the issue. Thanks for your patience while we work on a permanent solution.
For more on apps, check out these slideshows:
The Best iPad Apps for Moms
The Best iPhone Apps for Moms-to-Be
The Best iPhone Apps for Babies and Toddlers
Monday, June 20th, 2011
It’s always an exciting time of year when kids get out of school for summer break. But with the extra time for outdoor activities, it’s important to remind children and teens about important pedestrian safety tips. Even if they’ve heard them before, a quick reminder will only take a few seconds and can potentially save their lives.
Here are ten quick tips to share with your kids:
1. Always look both ways before crossing. Never run into the street without looking and always pay attention.
2. Avoid taking roads that don’t have sidewalks, or crossing busy streets that don’t have cross walks.
3. Walk in the opposite direction of traffic so you’re facing the cars. This way you’re more aware of the cars coming towards you.
4. Never play in a street, parking lot or driveway.
5. Walk when crossing an intersection- don’t run.
6. Take the safest route with the least amount of street crossings.
7. Wear bright, reflective clothing during dawn, dusk or any low-light situations.
8. Always follow traffic signals and signs- they aren’t just for cars
9. Try to make eye contact with drivers when crossing the road. Just because you can see them, doesn’t always mean they can see you.
10. Always be aware of your surroundings.
Here’s an idea: Create your own list with your children and post it on a fridge or front door where they can easily access it!
Which pedestrian safety tips do you teach your kids?
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Vitamin D Helps Kids’ Breathing, Study Says: Are Supplements Smart?
Strong bones aren’t the only benefit of vitamin D. A new study suggests that the “sunshine vitamin” helps prevent breathing problems in infants and young children.”Our data suggest that the association between vitamin D and wheezing, which can be a symptom of many respiratory diseases and not just asthma, is largely due to respiratory infections,” study leader Dr. Carlos Camargo, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said in a written statement. [CBS News]
Madonna Plays Santa for Malawi Children
Madonna wasn’t able to visit Malawi this Christmas, but she let the children in the six orphanages she funds there know they were very much on her mind this holiday season. Boxes of toys, chocolate, other sweets and clothes were shipped with a handwritten note from the star, which read, “To my Malawi children on Christmas and Boxing Day. I wish I was with you. See you soon M.” Inside the goodie boxes were miniature Christmas cards signed by Madonna, Lourdes and Rocco. [CNN]
Teacher Effort Is Linked To Difficult Students’ Inherited Traits
Challenging students take up more of their teachers’ time – and the difference between a tougher student and an easier one appears to be genetic, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The study looked at young twins in the U.K. and asked their teachers how much of a handful they are. [Medical News Today]
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Categories: GoodyBlog, Health & Safety, News | Tags: back to school, Breast Feeding, breastfeeding, Christmas, daily news roundup, holiday, madonna, medication, medications, News, teacher, teachers, teaching, vaccination, vaccinations, vaccine, vitamin D, vitamins
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
Mommy blogger Dr. Wendy Walsh at MomLogic.com was recently shocked with bad news: Her child’s elementary school officially banned silly bandz. Across the nation, the fun-shaped rubber bracelets have become contraband after proving to be a constant distraction and source of conflict in elementary and middle schools. Instead of paying attention in classes, young kids are flinging and filching silly bandz or fidgeting and fighting over them.
Some parents see the confiscation of silly bandz as a welcome way to refocus students’ attention on the teacher instead of on trading with other students. Other parents believe schools may be going too far in stifling student’s creativity and “freedom of expression” (Time.com). For now, though, some schools are adamant about keeping silly bandz out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind. Maybe one day, silly bandz will be forgotten like pogs (remember those?) that were once popular years ago.
As a parent, do you support the banning of silly bandz? Has your children’s school banned them?
Categories: Behavior, GoodyBlog, Health & Safety, News, school, Your Child | Tags: back to school, banning, banning silly bandz, conflict, elementary school, middle school, rubber bracelets, school, school ban, schooling banning, silly bandz, students
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Back-to-school and bullying seem to go hand-in-hand now that summer is over and children are grouped together at big schools. These days, bullying—especially cyberbullying—is on everyone’s mind, especially with the string of national tragedies (college freshman Tyler Clementi and high school freshman Phoebe Prince come to mind) that have made the news as a result of mean kid tactics.
Bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any age, but most bullying starts—and is experienced—at a young age in the hallways, on the playground, on the bus, and wherever kids are more susceptible to misbehave and to be mistreated when there is no closely monitored adult supervision.
If your child is being bullied or you suspect bullying may be happening to your child, we hope the Parents.com resources below will help your family understand, cope with, and end the cycle of bullying.
Don’t forget to report all bullying to school authorities (such as teachers, principals, and administrators) and even to law enforcement if bullying escalates into extreme violence.
Categories: GoodyBlog, Health & Safety, News, school | Tags: advice, back to school, bullies, bullying, cyberbullying, expert advice, expert tips, school, tips
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
The first days of school can be hard for kids. But let’s face it, they’re pretty hard for mom too, especially if it’s your first time sending your tot off on that school bus. Our advice? Stock up on the tissues, and check out these sweet ways to be reminded of your munchkin throughout the day.
Don’t worry, it’s totally normal to blank on your kid’s name, or refer to her by the dog’s moniker. But these pretty stackable rings from Heart & Stone jewelry will solve that problem
Keep your child close with this beautiful locket from Cambria Cove.
A photo bookmark with your little one marking the page will give you even more incentive to steal some time with a favorite read.
Tote around this personalized bag to show off your cute kid to everyone you pass.
