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Choking is every parent's fear at some point and rightfully so. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is a leading cause of death in children. Food, along with toys and coins, are the main culprits. Certain shapes, sizes and consistencies of foods pose greater choking risk. Knowing which foods are high risk is the first step in prevention.
Diabetes in children affects the way that the body breaks down the glucose in the blood. In Type 1 diabetes the illness affects the body's ability to produce the enzyme insulin that prepares the glucose for use in the body; Type 2 diabetes can prevent the use of insulin on the glucose. Both types of diabetes result in too much glucose in the blood, which does have a direct affect on the child's weight if the illness is left untreated.
Children can go through stages that involve dietary choices based on current favorite foods. Although catering to a child's preferred culinary tastes from time to time may help keep the peace around the dinner table, compromising on the cooking temperatures for certain varieties of meat can result in food-borne illnesses. A meat thermometer can help minimize the risk of contamination.
Childhood obesity is epidemic in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of kids ages 6 to 11 who were obese ballooned from 7 percent in 1980 to nearly 18 percent in 2010, while the percentage of teens who were overweight or obese increased from 5 percent to 18 percent over the same 20 years. Research suggests that obesity during childhood can impact a person’s weight and health as an adult.
Kids who are overweight have a higher risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma and other conditions. In addition, overweight children often experience social stigmatization that can cause low self-esteem and problems with school. However, it's normal for kids to gain weight as they grow and develop, and it's not always possible to tell whether a child is overweight. If you're concerned about your child's weight, talk to his doctor.
Whether you're shuttling your kids to soccer practice or helping them with their homework, cleaning up messes or doing mountains of laundry, you've probably wished you could clone yourself just to get it all done. And that's before you've even started cooking dinner. If your attempts to make meals that appeal to the kids just leave you exhausted and frustrated with your children's reactions, a quick fix is on the horizon. These simple tips will allow you to serve your kids nutritious, delicious meals with minimal prep.
A mouse made from strawberries is a really fun snack that your kids are going to love. Find out about a mouse made from strawberries as a kids' snack with help from an experienced culinary professional in this free video clip.
Getting your kids to not only eat their vegetables but also beg for more isn't the impossible dream that you'll never realize. Get your kids to eat their vegetables and beg for more with kid-friendly eggplant pizza with help from a certified health coach in this free video clip.
You'd be surprised by just how many healthy snacks you can make from natural things with fruits and vegetables right at home. Make healthy snacks made from natural things with fruits and vegetables at home with help from an experienced health director in this free video clip.
Cutting down on a kid's snacking is one way to help your kid start leading a healthier life. Cut down on a kid's snacking with help from an experienced parent coach in this free video clip.
Ground beef plays an important role in a wide variety of different kids' meals. Find out about kids' meals with ground beef with help from an expert food coach in this free video clip.
Raising a kid can be overwhelming, especially for moms. Deal with children and overworked moms with help from a practicing therapist in this free video clip.
Tasty meals for kids don't have to cost an arm and a leg down at the supermarket. Learn about tasty meals for kids with help from a practicing physician, speaker and lifestyle expert in this free video clip.
Just because you live with a picky eater doesn't mean that every meal has to be difficult. Learn about a simple chicken dinner for picky eaters with help from a practicing physician, speaker and lifestyle expert in this free video clip.
Homophones are a very important part of the English language. Learn about teaching homophones to children with disabilities with help from a professional development expert in this free video clip.
Providing an older cat with proper nutrition is essential to the cat's health and well-being. With age, your cat may fall victim to various diseases, and his eating pattern may change. The cat can become finicky, ignoring the foods he once loved. To make sure your cat gets the nutrients he needs, learn various ways you can encourage him to eat.
Not every meal for designed with kids in mind has to be high in calories - the younger generation can eat healthy, too. Get nutritional ideas for kids that are low in calories with help from an expert in nutrition and health in this free video clip.
Kids should have sugar for a wide variety of different, health-related reasons. Find out why kids can't eat sugar with help from a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in this free video clip.
Just because a smoothie has vegetables doesn't mean kids won't like it. Learn about kids smoothies with vegetables with help from a board certified holistic health practitioner and nutritional consultant in this free video clip.
Brewer’s yeast, a bitter paste made from a one-celled fungus, is a nutritional supplement packed with B vitamins and protein. People may take brewer’s yeast to help prevent B vitamin deficiency and to help treat diabetes, high cholesterol or boost weight loss due to its chromium content. Children may not want to take brewer’s yeast because of the bitter flavor, but there are ways to mask the taste and possibly make it more appealing for them.
Children with sensory disabilities, which are usually characterized by vision or hearing impairment, have a great need for adequate support in the classroom. According to the University of Northern Colorado's National Center for Severe and Sensory Disabilities, less than 50 percent of students with low-incidence disabilities, including those with sensory disabilities, earn their high school diploma. Although aides and devices can help kids learn, teachers are ultimately responsible for ensuring that students have the support they need.
Growing vegetables in a greenhouse extends your normal growing season and creates an additional growing season in cold weather. If you intend to use your greenhouse all year round, however, you must be aware of the potential danger of heat to your plants as well as cold. Many vegetables are more tolerant of heat than they are of cold, but excessive heat can cause your plants to dry out, wilt and eventually die.
Goldfish, the Carassius auratus, belong to the minnow or carp family, and the origins of the goldfish have been traced back to East Asia. Since then, goldfish have been bred in captivity and developed into many different breeds and sizes, and they have adapted to home aquariums, as well as water ponds and gardens. Normally a healthy and voracious eater, goldfish can lose their appetites for a number of reasons, which often befuddles the owner. A goldfish owner can improve the eating habits of her goldfish by observing fish behavior, by properly selecting adequate fish food and maintaining a healthy…
The Comeback Kid achievement is one of many "Kinect Sports" achievements requiring both strategic planning and a bit of luck to accomplish. It takes a lot of moving and blocking to see this one through to the end, but the Comeback Kid Boxing achievement is relatively easy if you develop a strategy. By successfully completing these achievements, players receive Gamerscore points -- the Comeback Kid achievement earns players 15 Gamerscore points.
Children with sensory integration issues often have difficulty matching sensory input signals to the appropriate behavioral response. Parents and caregivers of a child with these difficulties can complete activities at home with their child, addressing the child's specific issues. However, discuss your plans with a trained occupational therapist before beginning these activities. Select activities that meet your child's developmental abilities.
With almost half of American marriages ending in divorce according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s inevitable that many marriages will be second marriages. When one or both of the spouses have children from a previous marriage or relationship, the family dynamic becomes more complicated. Becoming a stepparent, even when the children are very young or you have a good relationship with them, is challenging. There’s a good chance that at some point both you and the kids will have feelings of resentment, anger, betrayal and frustration – but those feelings can be the exception rather than the rule. Communication,…
Children are sometimes known to be picky eaters who refuse to eat things based on seemingly trivial reasons. For instance, some kids refuse to eat things based on what the food looks like or its texture. Even the color of food can have an impact on whether the child decides to eat the food.
Sports teach kids teamwork, the importance of physical fitness and the value of an active lifestyle. Some kids naturally are drawn to sports. They enjoy playing games and being in competition. Others see it as hard work or feel they’re just not athletic. These kids may need motivation to pick up a baseball bat or put on some soccer cleats.
Having a birthday during the school year means classmates are around for the celebration. Lunch period is a good time to break out some decorations in honor of your special day. With a few festive items and some special treats, your lunch table is the perfect backdrop for a small school party.
In elementary and secondary schools, a team of service workers ensures that students receive nutritious breakfasts and lunches. School lunch aides, who are classified under the category “institution and cafeteria cooks” by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, prepare large quantities of food, usually in advance of scheduled meal times. While a high school diploma is preferred by many employers, it is not required, and school districts usually provide on-the-job training, according to the bureau.
Children with disabilities deserve access to the same educational opportunities as all other students. In fact, due to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, signed by 145 countries, disabled persons have a right to free and equal education, as well as accommodation and individual support. To effectively fulfill these rights, educators must have the appropriate resources and training to handle students with special needs.
The process of helping your disabled child become independent starts at home. From encouraging him to develop an independent attitude to creating opportunities for self-sufficiency, this can be long process. Nevertheless, doing so can give your child important coping skills and self-confidence.
Many children experience some form of tactile sensitivity. These sensitivities can range from very mild, such as when a child dislikes a certain feeling or texture, to very severe, when a child experiences physical symptoms when he or she comes into contact with certain textures, fabrics or other substances. Often, sensory activities that involve touching different textures are a core part of preschool and kindergarten curricula. Fortunately, there are ways to help children with simple tactile sensitivity issues that will not require special therapies or equipment. Children with severe tactile issues are often dealing with other developmental or psychological issues,…
Dealing with an insecure child requires you to pay closer attention the way you talk to and with the child, especially when the child is feeling uneasy, unsure or scared. Knowing how to detect periods of heightened insecurity, such as crying, sulking or withdrawing, will help you better handle the child and help strengthen the child's self-esteem.
Students with sensory processing disorder have difficulties in classroom settings because of of their inability to respond to sensory input in an appropriate manner. Some students with this disorder may become over-stimulated by lights, sounds and activities that typical students are not bothered by. Other students with sensory processing disorder may not receive enough stimulation in the classroom setting, and may find it necessary to rock, run or fidget to stay calm. Adapt your classroom for students with sensory processing disorder by modifying the environment with sensory stimulation in mind.
Overexposure to sugar, infrequent or poor cleaning, lack of fluoride treatments and family history of dental disease are all causes of dental decay. Types of dental decay vary depending on age and the number of fillings you have. Frequent visits to a dentist can help protect your teeth from decay and stop existing cavities from getting worse.
According to the United States Geological Survey, most earthquakes occur in "The Ring of Fire," located in the Pacific Ocean. However, nearly every state in the United States experiences some type of earthquake, with varying frequency. Given how common this natural disaster is, it is important to prepare yourself for the event, especially if you have a child with a disability. In the unfortunate case an earthquake occurs, help the child with special needs get through the experience safely and with the least amount of emotional trauma possible.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that all schools that receive public funding provide a non-estrictive, inclusive education for disabled children. Even severely disabled children can contribute to a classroom, and educators should devise strategies to include them. Effective classroom management for disabled children involves accommodating their special needs in conjunction with avoiding noninclusive language, activities and classroom decorations.
Caring for a disabled child may cause financial stress on a family. Taxpayers whose income remains under certain limits are often eligible for tax breaks to make caring for the disabled child more affordable. These tax credits and deductions are separate from Social Security Disability Income. As always, rules and restrictions apply.
It is important that children practice good dental hygiene to protect teeth and maintain healthy smiles. Proper brushing technique limits cavities, bacteria and plaque buildup in the mouth. Children should also limit sugary snacks, drink plenty of water and visit a dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning and checkup. Help your child brush his teeth two to three times a day until he learns the technique and can brush independently.
Children with moderate disabilities may struggle along the reading spectrum. They may have problems recognizing words as well as comprehending reading material. Teachers and parents can apply a variety of strategies that help children learn how to read and read well.
School lunch attendants help prepare and serve food for elementary and secondary school children. Job responsibilities include cooking, providing food portions at serving stations and tendering payments. There are no educational requirements to qualify, and newly hired employees can expect to receive on-the-job training. The occupation comes with age restrictions, as most states require prospective workers to be 18 years of age or older.
While there is never a good time for an off-track zipper, a broken lunch box zipper can be a special sort of annoyance. When it comes to keeping your food fresh, there's not much room for error. Frustrating as it may be, always keep a cool head when dealing with an off-track zipper. Once you learn to reset a broken zipper, you can apply the skill to all sorts zippers, not just those on lunchboxes.
Kids love to play in the dirt, and sometimes they go a step further, actually consuming the dirt itself. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, around 20 percent of the population aged between one and three years old will eventually eat a few teaspoons worth of soil. Some kids crave dirt though, developing a condition called pica. Eating dirt can be harmful for any child, particularly because a lot of soil contains waste, such as metals and fecal matter, that can cause illness.
Children sometimes exhibit behaviors that beg for attention because they prefer negative attention to no attention at all. Negative attention for misbehavior often reinforces these negative behaviors. Examples of attention-seeking behaviors include talking back, making faces and making noises repeatedly. Verbal reprimands, arguing and yelling all reinforce negative behaviors by providing attention. Develop a plan to provide attention and reinforce positive behaviors only. Offering attention for good behaviors teaches children skills to regulate their emotions and manage their behaviors in socially appropriate ways.
Teasing, even when it's meant in a good-spirited way, can have negative psychological consequences for children. Some children are very sensitive and have low self-esteem, others are prone to aggression and respond with violence to teasing. Helping children find positive and effective ways to deal with unwanted teasing can also help them learn important life skills and gain self confidence.
While some children are very good at disassembling toys and putting them back together, other children release their frustrations on their toys. Children are very curious and have minimal fear in exploring objects that may shatter or cause noise. At young stages, children are unable to express their feelings fully. Therefore, it is the responsibility of parents to show children the correct way to handle their belongings and to appreciate the property of other people.
Eating too quickly isn't just rude, it can also contribute to larger health issues. Besides making it easier for children to choke on their food, eating too quickly can also contribute to obesity. Because the body needs at least 20 to 30 minutes to register satiety, children can end up overeating because they cannot tell whether they are full or not. Chronic overeating contributes to obesity, which is a factor in health issues such as diabetes. Though it seems small, teaching your child to slow down when eating can help circumvent many long term issues.
Disabilities in children take many forms, including visual, hearing and physical impairments. Within each of these categories lies a wide range of severity, each requiring a different type of aid to help a child use a computer. The types of aids needed depend upon particular children's circumstances, and some assistive aids help more than one type of disability.
Having a distracted child in your classroom is a situation that can influence the entire class. She may draw other children's attention away from their work, which may keep them from focusing on concepts long enough to internalize them. Instead of letting your frustration affect the way you teach, deal with the distracted child so that you, the other children and even the distracted child can make the most of your time together.
