Teaching Children Empathy
Sunday, November 30, 2008
There is no written rule that says children must be self-centered simply because they are children. In fact, now is the time to teach them how to care for others so they will grow into respectable, empathetic citizens of this country and of the world.The December issue of Reader's Digest features an article, Raising Kids Who Care, which highlights five ways to teach kids to think about others. Here are two:
Start them young: A mother from Darien, Connecticut got her 3 children involved in various volunteer organizations through Kids Care Clubs when her oldest was just 10 years old (now 20). They all took different paths, but they carried those lessons throughout their adolescence and are each still involved with volunteer work.
Involve their friends: A mother from Lake Oswego, Oregon attended a mother-daughter meeting of the National Charity League in an attempt to have more quality time with her two young children. The kids didn’t go willingly, but once they knew their friends were involved, they felt more comfortable. The eldest child, now 23, is in her second year with Teach for America. She remembers that her peer involvement from when she was younger made the experience fun and cool.
You can find the complete article online: http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/raising-kids-who-care/article104653.html
Labels: boys, girls, health, kids, teens, tips
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 11:35 PM,
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Cold Remedies From MommyDocs.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
Below are some sound tips from the board-certified MommyDocs (www.mommydocs.com), an online pediatric duo, who have dedicated their careers to tried-and-true child healthcare. Rachel Schreiber, M.D., FAAAAI, is a board certified physician in both Allergy / Immunology and Internal Medicine, has published numerous articles in peer reviewed scientific journals, and was recently selected as one of "America's Top Physicians" by the Consumers' Research Council of America.
Jamie Freishtat, M.D. is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C.
Alternative Remedy Tips for Parents:
Capsules, Powders, & Potions Beware: Keep in mind that herbal supplements should not be given to children. Vitamins should only be given under the direction of the pediatrician. The FDA doesn't regulate OTC supplements. Because young bodies process drugs differently, kids may be especially vulnerable to side effects.
No Honey for Infants: Honey should not be given to children under the age of one as it may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, a rare and serious form of food poisoning. Infant botulism affects a baby's nervous system and can result in death.
H2O & You, not Babies: Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day as it flushes out toxins and serves to rehydrate the body. Keeping the body hydrated through water consumption is important so that mucus membranes are also, in turn, hydrated and thus able to effectively expelling virus particles. Babies under the age of one should not drink water unless advised by a pediatrician.
Warm vs. Cool Mist Humidifiers: Humidifiers are a solution to coughs and stuffed up noses as they hydrate mucus membranes, helping the body expel germs more effectively. Look for bacteria-eliminating features like in the Vicks GermFree Humidifier, which features a patented UV light chamber that kills up to 99.999% of bacteria, mold and spores in the water vapor that enters the air. For maximum safety in the nursery, use a Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier.
Saline Drops vs. Spray: For nasal congestion in babies, consider using nasal saline drops, which are gentler, and a bulb syringe to help loosen and clear mucus. For older children, you can use a nasal saline spray.
On the Net: www.mommydocs.com
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 3:25 AM,
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Preventing the Flu
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Did you know kids miss 38 million school days from the flu and parents miss 10 million work days to take care of them? Those are astonishing statistics and they can largely be prevented.What's even more troubling is there are 38,000 flu-related deaths each year. Richard Kanowitz lost his 4 1/2-year-old daughter in 2004 and wants to educate parents about getting their kids the flu vaccine.
Kanowitz's organization has partnered with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Novartis Vaccines called to start the Let's Fight Flu Together! program.
PTA will host vaccination clinics for students and their families, teachers and community at participating schools and community centers. A complete list of scheduled clinics can be found at www.PTA.org/flushotclinics.
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 11:37 PM,
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