STAY HEALTHY!
§ Wash hands frequently
§ Cough "into your elbow!"
§ Use Simply Saline 2-4 times daily when stuffy nose or cold symptoms occur.
(Helpful hint: Have child sitting not lying down when you instill it in their nose and count to three before removing the applicator to avoid spraying their face!)
§ Get sleep - 10-12 hours per night.
(Helpful hint: avoid any screen viewing - TV, computer, video games - within 1 hour of bedtime - read a book instead. "Screen viewing" interferes with REM sleep which children need to be at their best all day.)
§ Exercise at least 30 minutes every day.
(Helpful Hint: Goal could be 24 blocks = 2 miles walked all at once every day. Start with less and increase slowly to avoid being sore. Walking around the block works well - 6 times around the block is 2 miles!)
§ Eat a balanced diet
4-5 servings of vegetables and fresh fruit
2 servings from the meat group
2 servings from the milk group
4 servings from the grains group
32 ounces of water every day for children over 4 years of age, 12-24 from 1-3 years of age
§ Avoid indoor and outdoor air pollutants (smoke, incense, scented candles, powdered carpet cleaner, auto fumes, etc)
§ Take a multivitamin with iron and an extra dose of Vitamin D (to a total dose of 1000 U of Vitamin D3 per 25 pounds of body weight per day) every day
§ Avoid giving acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) unless pain is severe or fever greater than 102ºF (39ºC). When indicated, give one OR the other, NEVER give both together.
AND SAFE!
§ Begin by teaching your toddler to help you cross the street - "look to the left, look to the right, listen, look to the left again and look to the right as you cross".
§ Don't forget appropriate car seats and seat belts!
§ Teach your child to always wear a bike helmet - begin with tricycle riding and include parents who ride also!
§ Headphones / earpieces from MP3 players can cause permanent hearing loss, even at "low levels" but especially if someone standing next to the person with the headphones can hear the broadcast!
§ If your child has a head injury, keep them "quiet" and check with us about a plan for gradual return to activity. Our brain is like a bowl of fresh jello and can "crack" easily. “Seeing stars” is a sign of a significant injury to the head. Contact us immediately for advice if this occurs.
§ Skinned knees and elbows can be scrubbed right away with soap and water and it won't hurt! Don’t wait for the nerve endings to recover!
§ Young children have thinner skin than adults and are more easily injured by cold. Keep cheeks and fingers covered in cold weather.
§ Children need 10-12 hours to sleep in order to perform at their best during the daytime. They are much more sensitive to disruption of their REM (deep) sleep by "screen time". Read during the hour before bedtime instead of watching TV or computer or games.
§ Establishing routines for eating, sleeping, and playing decrease family stresses, improve your child's performance, and decrease the likelihood of accidents happening.