The time of abundant joys and big challenges, adolescence is generally accompanied by accessory bloom problems that affect the child's well-being. Close medical ascertainment is assuredly a must, but there are lots of things a ancestor could do to anticipate trouble. Some of the a lot of common adolescent angel are colds and flu; how can you accumulate it abroad from the family? In autumn, winter and spring, the physique is added apparent to the assailment of viruses; therefore, you charge to access the algid aeon with an adherent system.
Besides a diet affluent in vegetables and bake-apple that strengthen the child's allowed function, there are several herbs that plan wonders. For instance, instead of administrating vitamin C tablets to your child, you can alter them with agrarian rose abstract added in the tea. Or you can even adapt tea out of agrarian rose fruit; it has a top agreeable of amoebic vitamin C, appropriately preventing infections and allowance to the assimilation of calcium. In the aforementioned band of abundant herbs that addition the child's amnesty we cannot leave Echinacea out, since, it works bigger than any antibiotic, with an activity agnate to a vaccination.
In adjustment to abutment the child's advance and cartilage formation, abounding parents accord their young, calcium, beneath assorted forms. What a lot of humans don't perceive is that chemically candy calcium is added agonizingly alloyed by the system, arresting capital cellular enzymes in the process. Hence, it is awful appropriate to use amoebic mineral supplements such as ability calcium, which is an amoebic abstract from the carapace of sea creatures. Accumulate in perception that all calcium treatments crave vitamins C and D for the assimilation. Fish is an accomplished antecedent of vitamin D, not to acknowledgment that sun acknowledgment accelerates the process.
Yogesh is an internet hobbyist who loves to browse web and internet companies and loves to write about various companies and technologies. He is working for CLICS, CLICS is the Community Led Initiatives for Child health and Survival.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yogesh_Kumar_Gautam
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child
We spend a great deal of time as new parents making sure that we are up to date on the latest medical wonders and vaccines. We make sure that our little ones are at every physical, ensuring that they are reaching their milestones every step of the way. If our child is sick, we don't hesitate to call the doctor. There are medicines to help soothe the ache or pain, to help cure it or to even prevent it. Chances are your cabinet has at least two of the three in it right now. However, many parents don't have any information at all about what to do with their child's emotional health needs.
Parents need to allow their children to work through certain processes that are natural to one's emotional growth. These are situations parents can't or shouldn't keep from happening to a child but rather be there to help them process the situation and work through it. These things include when a child fights with his/her friends, being left out of a group, people being unfair, etc. These can be very difficult situations to deal with and to handle. It is through some of these tough situations we go through as young people that help to shape and build our character. Kids need the help of an adult to sort through their feelings and thoughts when situations get tough. If a parent is too self-absorbed (involved in a bad relationship, financial difficulties) during these critical times of need, a child is left on their own to navigate their way through the rough waters. It is through their immature and blurry navigation that a child's emotional growth can become "stunted," or to go along with our seaworthy example, "drown."
How can we keep our kids afloat -- not allowing them to get lost in life's rough situations but to come out learning something and having stronger character and self-confidence? I believe there are five key areas that help promote stable emotional growth which leads to a healthy pathway for processing and handling life's rough situations.
1.The first is to be in check with your child's "love tank." Is it full? Or is it empty? Are they running on fumes, hoping to coast through a situation without too many bumps in the road or any downhill runs where they may wind up speeding out of control? Do they have a full tank where it doesn't matter how hard the bump -- the shocks will absorb the impact or how steep the hill -- the trip is under control? As parents we need to make sure we know exactly what helps our child to feel loved-- not what makes us feel loved. As a counselor, I often have young children or even teenagers sit in my office and say, "I don't think my mom" or "I don't think my dad loves me -- really loves me." Upon discussing such a statement with the parents, I usually get answers like, "How can Sarah think that -- do you know all that she has? We buy her everything. We take her everywhere and let me tell you about her birthday parties." Funny thing is -- when I mention those things to "Sarah," I'm told she couldn't care less about those things. Sure they are nice, but at the end of the day, the cool cell phone doesn't ask her how she's doing or spend any real quality time with her. Sarah's love tank was almost on empty and she was having a really difficult time handling some of life's situations that were coming her way in jr. high. Mom and Dad -- find out how your child feels love. Chances are it is not the same way you do, so you may have to step out of your comfort zone to communicate with them.
2.The second area is to develop clearly defined boundaries in the family. Children need to be aware of their role in the family and what the parents' role is. Expectations need to be clearly stated and communicated as well as rewards and consequences. A child needs to know their place in their family without having surprises around every corner when the rules suddenly change. A child may say they hate rules (which I like to call boundaries) and they wish they could live with a family where there aren't any. That child may feel that way, for the moment, because there is probably something they are wanting to do, or something they are wanting to watch on tv, or some place they are wanting to go that their mom and dad has told them no. Truth is, boundaries, or rules, communicate love. They tell a child, "I love you enough to think about what is good for you and what isn't." The child who has boundaries may not be able to see it until they are older. The child who grows up without boundaries, or rules, sees it immediately. I have counseled many teenagers who, through tear-filled eyes, have said they just wanted mom or dad to lay down a rule or put up a boundary and say no for once. They constantly tested to see if anyone noticed or if anyone cared. The fact that their mom and dad let them do whatever, whenever, communicated to them that they were not worth protecting or that they were not truly loved. Many of these parents thought they were being "cool" and "a friend to their kid." First of all, your kids will have enough friends -- what they need is a parent, so be one. Second of all, it is sad that the one thing these parents thought they were communicating actually worked against them, leaving their child feeling like they weren't worth their parents' time.
3.The third area is once you have clearly defined boundaries in your home, consistently reinforce them. Those of us who work like to know exactly what our bosses expect from us and how they want things done. We wouldn't want to operate on those notions at our job only to have our boss walk in and tell us we did it all wrong and question what is wrong with us because the company decided to change the rules overnight and didn't send us the memo. We would probably feel a lot of emotions, one of them being anger and the other one being frustration. The same feelings can be felt by children in a home where the rules or boundaries are not consistent. Children don't like it either and they deserve to be told what is going on as well. If we have defined boundaries in the home, we need to be consistent with them so that our children know exactly what to expect, how to act, what brings a consequence their way, and what brings a reward. If we are changing these defining lines based on our mood as the parent or how awful our day was, that is not fair to our children. Having clearly defined boundaries that are consistently enforced spells fairness to your children. It provides stability for them. As they grow, life will at times seem so turbulent for them or bumpy-- knowing what to expect at home adds a sense of security to their lives. I told you that boundaries communicate "I love you enough to think about what is good for you and what isn't." The truth is, boundaries not only communicate that, but boundaries that are consistently enforced communicate "I also love you enough to take the time to enforce these boundaries with you and make sure you are protected."
4.The fourth area is allowing children to experience different emotions without telling them how they should or should not feel. Many parents ask their children when they see them after school has let out, "how was your day?" The child begins to open up and describes a scenario that happened that has certain emotions or feelings that accompany it. The parent jumps right in telling the child how they should feel or maybe even telling them that they were wrong to feel the way they did. The child immediately identifies in their mind that this is not a safe person to communicate with -- this person will judge me or condemn me. As a result, the scenario has been set up for a future of telling the parent that "nothing happened today -- just school stuff" and the majorly important things are left out. The parent loses out on really getting to know their child and being welcomed into "their world." We want our children to be safe -- we have alarms on our houses and we make sure that our doors are locked at night. We need to pay attention to their emotional safety as well. If you want your teenager to tell you things, then set the stage when that teenager is little and looking for whom he/she can trust. Watch your language with them, and I am not necessarily talking about using profanity (although that should not be used either). Make sure you are listening and offering advice only if asked. Don't make judgment statements either-- don't put them down for handling a situation a certain way or for experiencing a certain feeling. Letting a child work these things out while you provide stability by being there for them is very important.
5.This brings us to our fifth area. As the parents, we need to be watching the example of emotional health that we are leading. What messages are we sending about how to relate to others and situations we are going through? Our kids are always watching us. They imitate us. Our emotional stability is not a definite predictor of theirs, but there is a strong correlation between the two. If we were physically sick with a cold or something we would not want our kids to have, we would take necessary steps to protect them starting with getting ourselves well. If we want to make sure that some of our bad experiences or life worries do not taint our child's world, then we need to make sure that we break the cycle. I have many young ones who sit in my office talking about their anger, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and lack of self confidence; and then I meet mom who talks about her childhood, and all of a sudden I feel like de ja vu. Their stories sound so similar. Sometimes, mom even describes grandma as being the same way. Nobody stopped the cycle. There wasn't a good picture in the home of emotional health. The child began to own and exhibit the same features as his/her parents. Stop the cycle parents. Pay attention to your own emotional health. This is not to take away from heredity and people having emotional instability that may be resulting in some chemical imbalances. However, if you as the parent has this as well, get help. Be a good example to your child of someone taking care of themselves -- wanting to live the best life possible.
Do these five areas promise to make a wonder child -- a child who never has any issues or problems? Absolutely not. If you do keep these areas in check in your home, you will find that your child is better prepared to weather the storms of life they will face--having all of their stabilizers in check. You will be keeping their emotional health up front with their physical health
as being important. You are helping to prepare them for success -- not emotional disaster. If the storms get really rough and you feel the path is getting too dangerous, do what you would do if they were physically sick -- seek professional help. Do that at the first signs of danger -- not waiting until it is too late.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/raising-an-emotionally-healthy-child-600100.html
Parents need to allow their children to work through certain processes that are natural to one's emotional growth. These are situations parents can't or shouldn't keep from happening to a child but rather be there to help them process the situation and work through it. These things include when a child fights with his/her friends, being left out of a group, people being unfair, etc. These can be very difficult situations to deal with and to handle. It is through some of these tough situations we go through as young people that help to shape and build our character. Kids need the help of an adult to sort through their feelings and thoughts when situations get tough. If a parent is too self-absorbed (involved in a bad relationship, financial difficulties) during these critical times of need, a child is left on their own to navigate their way through the rough waters. It is through their immature and blurry navigation that a child's emotional growth can become "stunted," or to go along with our seaworthy example, "drown."
How can we keep our kids afloat -- not allowing them to get lost in life's rough situations but to come out learning something and having stronger character and self-confidence? I believe there are five key areas that help promote stable emotional growth which leads to a healthy pathway for processing and handling life's rough situations.
1.The first is to be in check with your child's "love tank." Is it full? Or is it empty? Are they running on fumes, hoping to coast through a situation without too many bumps in the road or any downhill runs where they may wind up speeding out of control? Do they have a full tank where it doesn't matter how hard the bump -- the shocks will absorb the impact or how steep the hill -- the trip is under control? As parents we need to make sure we know exactly what helps our child to feel loved-- not what makes us feel loved. As a counselor, I often have young children or even teenagers sit in my office and say, "I don't think my mom" or "I don't think my dad loves me -- really loves me." Upon discussing such a statement with the parents, I usually get answers like, "How can Sarah think that -- do you know all that she has? We buy her everything. We take her everywhere and let me tell you about her birthday parties." Funny thing is -- when I mention those things to "Sarah," I'm told she couldn't care less about those things. Sure they are nice, but at the end of the day, the cool cell phone doesn't ask her how she's doing or spend any real quality time with her. Sarah's love tank was almost on empty and she was having a really difficult time handling some of life's situations that were coming her way in jr. high. Mom and Dad -- find out how your child feels love. Chances are it is not the same way you do, so you may have to step out of your comfort zone to communicate with them.
2.The second area is to develop clearly defined boundaries in the family. Children need to be aware of their role in the family and what the parents' role is. Expectations need to be clearly stated and communicated as well as rewards and consequences. A child needs to know their place in their family without having surprises around every corner when the rules suddenly change. A child may say they hate rules (which I like to call boundaries) and they wish they could live with a family where there aren't any. That child may feel that way, for the moment, because there is probably something they are wanting to do, or something they are wanting to watch on tv, or some place they are wanting to go that their mom and dad has told them no. Truth is, boundaries, or rules, communicate love. They tell a child, "I love you enough to think about what is good for you and what isn't." The child who has boundaries may not be able to see it until they are older. The child who grows up without boundaries, or rules, sees it immediately. I have counseled many teenagers who, through tear-filled eyes, have said they just wanted mom or dad to lay down a rule or put up a boundary and say no for once. They constantly tested to see if anyone noticed or if anyone cared. The fact that their mom and dad let them do whatever, whenever, communicated to them that they were not worth protecting or that they were not truly loved. Many of these parents thought they were being "cool" and "a friend to their kid." First of all, your kids will have enough friends -- what they need is a parent, so be one. Second of all, it is sad that the one thing these parents thought they were communicating actually worked against them, leaving their child feeling like they weren't worth their parents' time.
3.The third area is once you have clearly defined boundaries in your home, consistently reinforce them. Those of us who work like to know exactly what our bosses expect from us and how they want things done. We wouldn't want to operate on those notions at our job only to have our boss walk in and tell us we did it all wrong and question what is wrong with us because the company decided to change the rules overnight and didn't send us the memo. We would probably feel a lot of emotions, one of them being anger and the other one being frustration. The same feelings can be felt by children in a home where the rules or boundaries are not consistent. Children don't like it either and they deserve to be told what is going on as well. If we have defined boundaries in the home, we need to be consistent with them so that our children know exactly what to expect, how to act, what brings a consequence their way, and what brings a reward. If we are changing these defining lines based on our mood as the parent or how awful our day was, that is not fair to our children. Having clearly defined boundaries that are consistently enforced spells fairness to your children. It provides stability for them. As they grow, life will at times seem so turbulent for them or bumpy-- knowing what to expect at home adds a sense of security to their lives. I told you that boundaries communicate "I love you enough to think about what is good for you and what isn't." The truth is, boundaries not only communicate that, but boundaries that are consistently enforced communicate "I also love you enough to take the time to enforce these boundaries with you and make sure you are protected."
4.The fourth area is allowing children to experience different emotions without telling them how they should or should not feel. Many parents ask their children when they see them after school has let out, "how was your day?" The child begins to open up and describes a scenario that happened that has certain emotions or feelings that accompany it. The parent jumps right in telling the child how they should feel or maybe even telling them that they were wrong to feel the way they did. The child immediately identifies in their mind that this is not a safe person to communicate with -- this person will judge me or condemn me. As a result, the scenario has been set up for a future of telling the parent that "nothing happened today -- just school stuff" and the majorly important things are left out. The parent loses out on really getting to know their child and being welcomed into "their world." We want our children to be safe -- we have alarms on our houses and we make sure that our doors are locked at night. We need to pay attention to their emotional safety as well. If you want your teenager to tell you things, then set the stage when that teenager is little and looking for whom he/she can trust. Watch your language with them, and I am not necessarily talking about using profanity (although that should not be used either). Make sure you are listening and offering advice only if asked. Don't make judgment statements either-- don't put them down for handling a situation a certain way or for experiencing a certain feeling. Letting a child work these things out while you provide stability by being there for them is very important.
5.This brings us to our fifth area. As the parents, we need to be watching the example of emotional health that we are leading. What messages are we sending about how to relate to others and situations we are going through? Our kids are always watching us. They imitate us. Our emotional stability is not a definite predictor of theirs, but there is a strong correlation between the two. If we were physically sick with a cold or something we would not want our kids to have, we would take necessary steps to protect them starting with getting ourselves well. If we want to make sure that some of our bad experiences or life worries do not taint our child's world, then we need to make sure that we break the cycle. I have many young ones who sit in my office talking about their anger, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and lack of self confidence; and then I meet mom who talks about her childhood, and all of a sudden I feel like de ja vu. Their stories sound so similar. Sometimes, mom even describes grandma as being the same way. Nobody stopped the cycle. There wasn't a good picture in the home of emotional health. The child began to own and exhibit the same features as his/her parents. Stop the cycle parents. Pay attention to your own emotional health. This is not to take away from heredity and people having emotional instability that may be resulting in some chemical imbalances. However, if you as the parent has this as well, get help. Be a good example to your child of someone taking care of themselves -- wanting to live the best life possible.
Do these five areas promise to make a wonder child -- a child who never has any issues or problems? Absolutely not. If you do keep these areas in check in your home, you will find that your child is better prepared to weather the storms of life they will face--having all of their stabilizers in check. You will be keeping their emotional health up front with their physical health
as being important. You are helping to prepare them for success -- not emotional disaster. If the storms get really rough and you feel the path is getting too dangerous, do what you would do if they were physically sick -- seek professional help. Do that at the first signs of danger -- not waiting until it is too late.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/raising-an-emotionally-healthy-child-600100.html
Oral Health Tips for Your Child's Healthy Smile
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), tooth decay is one of the most common chronic infectious diseases among U.S. children. This is a preventable health problem that begins early. 28% of children aged 2–5 years have already had decay in their primary or baby teeth. By the time they reach 11 years of age, approximately half of children have experienced decay. By the age of 19, tooth decay in permanent teeth affects two-thirds or 68% of adolescents. Low-income children have twice as much untreated decay than children in families with higher incomes. Problems such as pain, dysfunction, underweight, and poor appearance can result greatly reducing a child's capacity to succeed in the educational environment.
A healthy smile is a good indication of a happy child. Oral health experts are all in agreement that developing healthy smiles in children should start in infancy. CDC experts have promoted a set of pediatric oral health tips that if followed will help to prevent any child from suffering the embarrassment of tooth decay.
Pediatric Oral Health Tips
Start early. As soon as the first tooth appears, start with wiping to clean it daily with a clean, damp cloth. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. You can start using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old and if your doctor recommends it you can use toothpaste with fluoride even earlier. Do not let a child under the age of 6 use fluoride mouth rinse unless the child's doctor or dentist recommends it.
Check with your child's doctor or dentist about your child's specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth twice a day with a very small amount of toothpaste with fluoride. When the composition of the drinking water doest not have enough fluoride parents of children 6 months and older should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement.
It was known that fluoride is an important element for the fight against cavities. But for children younger than 6 years old, swallowing too much fluoride may be detrimental to his/her health. Fluoride can cause white spots to appear in the child's permanent teeth. Always advise your child to use only a small amount of toothpaste (approximately the size of a pea) and tell your child not to swallow but spit out the toothpaste and rinse thoroughly after brushing.
Supervision. Until your child has the ability to handle a toothbrush you should brush the teeth of your child two times daily. After that you should continue to keep a watchful eye to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.
As a parent be a good role model to your child by practicing good oral health care habits. Visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups.
Always watch for the signs of periodontal disease. Symptoms include bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums or gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath.
Sedation Technique And Sedation Methods
If dentists or the dentist office causes your child anxiety or panic attacks you may consider using a sedation technique in order to relax him/her through the dental procedure.
Ask the doctor which method would be best to help relieve your child's stress level. There are different types of dental sedation method to choose from. Today there are four such methods used by sedation dentists. They are oral sedatives, nitrous oxide sedation, intravenous (IV) sedation and general anesthesia. All of these methods provide varying degrees of sedation.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/oral-health-tips-for-your-childs-healthy-smile-540302.html
A healthy smile is a good indication of a happy child. Oral health experts are all in agreement that developing healthy smiles in children should start in infancy. CDC experts have promoted a set of pediatric oral health tips that if followed will help to prevent any child from suffering the embarrassment of tooth decay.
Pediatric Oral Health Tips
Start early. As soon as the first tooth appears, start with wiping to clean it daily with a clean, damp cloth. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. You can start using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old and if your doctor recommends it you can use toothpaste with fluoride even earlier. Do not let a child under the age of 6 use fluoride mouth rinse unless the child's doctor or dentist recommends it.
Check with your child's doctor or dentist about your child's specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth twice a day with a very small amount of toothpaste with fluoride. When the composition of the drinking water doest not have enough fluoride parents of children 6 months and older should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement.
It was known that fluoride is an important element for the fight against cavities. But for children younger than 6 years old, swallowing too much fluoride may be detrimental to his/her health. Fluoride can cause white spots to appear in the child's permanent teeth. Always advise your child to use only a small amount of toothpaste (approximately the size of a pea) and tell your child not to swallow but spit out the toothpaste and rinse thoroughly after brushing.
Supervision. Until your child has the ability to handle a toothbrush you should brush the teeth of your child two times daily. After that you should continue to keep a watchful eye to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.
As a parent be a good role model to your child by practicing good oral health care habits. Visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups.
Always watch for the signs of periodontal disease. Symptoms include bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums or gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath.
Sedation Technique And Sedation Methods
If dentists or the dentist office causes your child anxiety or panic attacks you may consider using a sedation technique in order to relax him/her through the dental procedure.
Ask the doctor which method would be best to help relieve your child's stress level. There are different types of dental sedation method to choose from. Today there are four such methods used by sedation dentists. They are oral sedatives, nitrous oxide sedation, intravenous (IV) sedation and general anesthesia. All of these methods provide varying degrees of sedation.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/oral-health-tips-for-your-childs-healthy-smile-540302.html
Child-Specific Nutritional Guidelines For Healthy and Active Kids
Kids need calories, protein, fiber, and some sugar and some fats in appropriate portion sizes. It is best to avoid an overabundance of "bad fats" and "empty carbs". To help busy parents who may not have the time to plan sufficiently to ensure that the kids are getting the essential nutrients required every day, I offer the following as a starting point.
QUESTIONS
1. Who prepares the child's meals? A parent? The child? The grandparent? Other?
2. Does any adult know what or how much the child is eating? Is there a limit on what the child eats? Who makes this determination? How often does your child get "seconds" at meals?
3. How many times per week does your child watch TV while eating a meal?
4. How many meals per week does the whole family sit down at the table together?
5. How many servings of vegetables and fruits does your child eat daily?
6. How many times a week does your child eat out? Eat home?
7. Does your child wake up on the middle of the night to eat?
8. What type of activities does the family do for fun?
9. Are there any issues related to your child's food habits or diet that you are concerned about?
TIPS
1. Monitor your child's weight regularly. Ask the doctor what weight and gaining patterns would be healthiest for your child.
2. Offer your child water, skim or 1% milk and diet beverages only. (applies to 4 years old and up)
3. Limit juice intake to no more than 4 oz per day.
4. Include at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits daily into your child's meal and snacking plan.
5. Eat at home more often.
6. Eat family meals together WITHOUT WATCHING TV.
7. Increase your child 's physical activity to 60 minutes a day while decreasing "screen time" e.g. computers, videos, TV, handheld games to LESS THAN 2 HOURS PER DAY.
8. If your child eats in reaction to emotional triggers such as boredom, anxiety, stress, loneliness, you may wish to address these issues with solutions that DO NOT include food.
PORTIONS
1. If you are not in full control and knowledge of how much your child is eating, keep a food diary for 1 week to record the portions your child is currently eating. During this week, measure the portions as you prepare the food and write it down. If other measuring methods don't fit or make sense, then actually count the french fries or snack pieces.
2. Away from home you may consider sharing portions between children or taking home half of the serving. Avoid supersize meals. Share desserts.
3. Use smaller plates and bowls at home to help control portions.
4. Create or purchase "100 calorie" snack packs.
UNDERSTANDING SERVING SIZES BY USING YOUR HAND
1. A fist or cupped hand = 1 cup
1 serving = 1/2 cup ceral, cooked pasta or rice
1 serving = 1 cup of raw, leafy green veggies
1 serving = 1/2 cup of cooked or raw chopped vegetables or fruits
2. A Thump TIP = 1 Teaspoon (the nail area of your thumb)
Measure servings of fats such as butter, peanut butter, and mayo with your thumb tip to keep serving size to a minimum.
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
3. A Thumb = 1 oz of cheese
1.5 oz of low-fat cheese counts as 1 of the 2 - 3 daily recommended servings for dairy.
Measure by using your whole thumb down to the base.
4. Palm = 3 oz of meat
2 servings or 6 oz of lean meat (poulty, fish, shellfish, beef) should be part of a daily diet for adults and most older children.
One palm size portion = about 3 oz or 1 serving for your smaller child.
5. Handful = 1 to 2 oz of snack food such as nuts, trail mix, dried fruit
PORTIONS BY FOOD GROUP
1. PROTEIN
3 oz meat is about the size and thickness of a deck of playing cards.
2 tablespoons of peanut butter is about the size of a golf ball
1 oz nuts is about 1 handful
2. VEGETABLES
1 cup of mashed potatoes or broccoli is about the size of your fist
3. FRUIT
A medium size apple is about the size of a tennis ball
4. DAIRY
1 oz cheese is about the size of 4 stacked dice.
1/2 cup of ice cream is about the size of a tennis ball
5. GRAINS
A 4" pancake is about the size of a CD.
1/2 cup of cooked rice or pasta is about the size of an ice cream scooper
6. FATS
1 teaspoon of butter is about the size of the tip of your thumb.
YOUR CHILD'S PLATE SHOULD BE:
25% protein
25% whole grains
15% fruit
35% vegetables
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/childspecific-nutritional-guidelines-for-healthy-and-active-kids-581012.html
QUESTIONS
1. Who prepares the child's meals? A parent? The child? The grandparent? Other?
2. Does any adult know what or how much the child is eating? Is there a limit on what the child eats? Who makes this determination? How often does your child get "seconds" at meals?
3. How many times per week does your child watch TV while eating a meal?
4. How many meals per week does the whole family sit down at the table together?
5. How many servings of vegetables and fruits does your child eat daily?
6. How many times a week does your child eat out? Eat home?
7. Does your child wake up on the middle of the night to eat?
8. What type of activities does the family do for fun?
9. Are there any issues related to your child's food habits or diet that you are concerned about?
TIPS
1. Monitor your child's weight regularly. Ask the doctor what weight and gaining patterns would be healthiest for your child.
2. Offer your child water, skim or 1% milk and diet beverages only. (applies to 4 years old and up)
3. Limit juice intake to no more than 4 oz per day.
4. Include at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits daily into your child's meal and snacking plan.
5. Eat at home more often.
6. Eat family meals together WITHOUT WATCHING TV.
7. Increase your child 's physical activity to 60 minutes a day while decreasing "screen time" e.g. computers, videos, TV, handheld games to LESS THAN 2 HOURS PER DAY.
8. If your child eats in reaction to emotional triggers such as boredom, anxiety, stress, loneliness, you may wish to address these issues with solutions that DO NOT include food.
PORTIONS
1. If you are not in full control and knowledge of how much your child is eating, keep a food diary for 1 week to record the portions your child is currently eating. During this week, measure the portions as you prepare the food and write it down. If other measuring methods don't fit or make sense, then actually count the french fries or snack pieces.
2. Away from home you may consider sharing portions between children or taking home half of the serving. Avoid supersize meals. Share desserts.
3. Use smaller plates and bowls at home to help control portions.
4. Create or purchase "100 calorie" snack packs.
UNDERSTANDING SERVING SIZES BY USING YOUR HAND
1. A fist or cupped hand = 1 cup
1 serving = 1/2 cup ceral, cooked pasta or rice
1 serving = 1 cup of raw, leafy green veggies
1 serving = 1/2 cup of cooked or raw chopped vegetables or fruits
2. A Thump TIP = 1 Teaspoon (the nail area of your thumb)
Measure servings of fats such as butter, peanut butter, and mayo with your thumb tip to keep serving size to a minimum.
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
3. A Thumb = 1 oz of cheese
1.5 oz of low-fat cheese counts as 1 of the 2 - 3 daily recommended servings for dairy.
Measure by using your whole thumb down to the base.
4. Palm = 3 oz of meat
2 servings or 6 oz of lean meat (poulty, fish, shellfish, beef) should be part of a daily diet for adults and most older children.
One palm size portion = about 3 oz or 1 serving for your smaller child.
5. Handful = 1 to 2 oz of snack food such as nuts, trail mix, dried fruit
PORTIONS BY FOOD GROUP
1. PROTEIN
3 oz meat is about the size and thickness of a deck of playing cards.
2 tablespoons of peanut butter is about the size of a golf ball
1 oz nuts is about 1 handful
2. VEGETABLES
1 cup of mashed potatoes or broccoli is about the size of your fist
3. FRUIT
A medium size apple is about the size of a tennis ball
4. DAIRY
1 oz cheese is about the size of 4 stacked dice.
1/2 cup of ice cream is about the size of a tennis ball
5. GRAINS
A 4" pancake is about the size of a CD.
1/2 cup of cooked rice or pasta is about the size of an ice cream scooper
6. FATS
1 teaspoon of butter is about the size of the tip of your thumb.
YOUR CHILD'S PLATE SHOULD BE:
25% protein
25% whole grains
15% fruit
35% vegetables
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/childspecific-nutritional-guidelines-for-healthy-and-active-kids-581012.html
The Prevalence Of Child Obesity
Child obesity has quickly become a major problem in America, the degree to which may not even be fully realized at this point. To consider all the aspects of obesity, a systems approach is necessary in identifying all factors involved. From this perspective, a more encompassing view of the prevalence of child obesity can be observed.
Statistics show that the prevalence of child obesity has dramatically increased in America with a rate that is triple of that 30 years ago. This very disturbing trend needs serious and immediate attention. Recent information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 17 percent of children between the ages of two and nineteen are severely overweight. Actual numbers are expected to be much higher as regularly conducted surveys indicate people tend to provide incorrect information concerning their weight and height. The Harvard School of Public Health also indicates that the prevalence of child obesity in the U.S. has been grossly underestimated and is of proportions that are rapidly spinning out of control.
Child obesity can be attributed to several factors. A child's eating habits, physical activity level, hormones, genetics and environmental considerations are all involved in the picture of child obesity. Obesity involves both physical and emotional problems. While medical risks for diabetes among others are well known, these children typically suffer from low self-esteem and social isolation from peers, which has equally devastating effects on child development.
The prevalence of diabetes in society is no longer considered just an eating problem, but now a lifestyle concern involving not just the child, but also the whole family. Parents of overweight children are often not aware of the risks of obesity and unwittingly contribute to an environment and attitudes that foster obesity. Some child health advocates go to the lengths of considering the allowance of child obesity as serious child abuse as parents are largely responsible for children's diets.
Children that are overweight need to be involved in more and regular physical activities while being less involved in sedentary functions such as watching television. Parents should take an active role in providing healthy eating choices and limiting or eliminating unhealthy snacking foods from the home. Enrolling children in after school clubs and activities, sporting teams and summer camp activities is one way to increase their activity level. This will also help them in gaining self-confidence and in socializing with other children. Just as diet has to be controlled by the parents at home, a child's physical activity level needs to be actively monitored by parents as well.
Children rely on their parents for their well-being, and obesity puts a child's well-being at risk. Taking steps to prevent obesity as well as to rehabilitate an obese child is important. Not addressing a child's obesity can put them at serious risk.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-prevalence-of-child-obesity-92749.html
Statistics show that the prevalence of child obesity has dramatically increased in America with a rate that is triple of that 30 years ago. This very disturbing trend needs serious and immediate attention. Recent information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 17 percent of children between the ages of two and nineteen are severely overweight. Actual numbers are expected to be much higher as regularly conducted surveys indicate people tend to provide incorrect information concerning their weight and height. The Harvard School of Public Health also indicates that the prevalence of child obesity in the U.S. has been grossly underestimated and is of proportions that are rapidly spinning out of control.
Child obesity can be attributed to several factors. A child's eating habits, physical activity level, hormones, genetics and environmental considerations are all involved in the picture of child obesity. Obesity involves both physical and emotional problems. While medical risks for diabetes among others are well known, these children typically suffer from low self-esteem and social isolation from peers, which has equally devastating effects on child development.
The prevalence of diabetes in society is no longer considered just an eating problem, but now a lifestyle concern involving not just the child, but also the whole family. Parents of overweight children are often not aware of the risks of obesity and unwittingly contribute to an environment and attitudes that foster obesity. Some child health advocates go to the lengths of considering the allowance of child obesity as serious child abuse as parents are largely responsible for children's diets.
Children that are overweight need to be involved in more and regular physical activities while being less involved in sedentary functions such as watching television. Parents should take an active role in providing healthy eating choices and limiting or eliminating unhealthy snacking foods from the home. Enrolling children in after school clubs and activities, sporting teams and summer camp activities is one way to increase their activity level. This will also help them in gaining self-confidence and in socializing with other children. Just as diet has to be controlled by the parents at home, a child's physical activity level needs to be actively monitored by parents as well.
Children rely on their parents for their well-being, and obesity puts a child's well-being at risk. Taking steps to prevent obesity as well as to rehabilitate an obese child is important. Not addressing a child's obesity can put them at serious risk.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-prevalence-of-child-obesity-92749.html
Child Obesity Facts and Treatment
Now day’s parents are worried because of their child obesity problems and number of over weight children is increasing day by day. Fattiness in children not only makes them to feel inferior but also causes many harmful diseases in small age like diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, and many more diseases can be gathered around them. Access weight can bring them in depression also. Children’s always take a tension that they are fatty.
Major Causes of Child Obesity
Children take junk food, specifically food with low nutrition and high calories. The physical activities of the children have also reduced as they misuse more time with computers, playing video games and television.
Facts of childhood obesity :-
* Carelessness in food, alarming increase in the number of children and teenagers developing Type-2 Diabetes (also termed as adult-onset diabetes) due to being overweight.
* High levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure, that are some main risk factors for development of heart diseases are found in most of the obese children.
* Sleep Apnea is considered as the most severe problem faced by obese children. In the sleep apnea (interruption of breath while sleeping) may lead to other problems like difficulty in learning and memory.
* Overweight children are on higher risk of developing liver diseases, orthopedic problems and asthma.
* 70% oboist teenagers retain their overweight and obese condition even during their adulthood.
Treatment Options
Some of the treatment options of Child Obesity include:
* Healthy eating – Nutritional diet makes your child healthy not fatty. Be supportive to him to make them take care of their diet and physical activities.
* Less Overeating – Avoid high calories food and low nutritional food for your children.
* Participate in Physical Activities – Encourage your children to participate in physical activities rather than engaging themselves in entertaining activities that result in overweight condition in childhood which may also follow during adulthood.
Help your child
Parents have to play active role in ensuring that their child does not become overweight.
* Never neglect overweight child. If you accept your child the way he is, the chances are more that the child will accept the condition and feel good about them.
* Never ignore you child. Let his express his feelings about his overweight condition. They can assess their overweight condition better than anybody else.
* Help your child loose overweight.
Most Effective option to get rid of Child Obesity
One of the most effective methods of treating and preventing child obesity for the parents is to encourage their child for engaging in physical activities
* Encourage your child to participate in sports activities like, cricket basketball, dance or gymnastics and many more
* Give time to your child to do active tasks like vacuuming, watering plants, making beds etc Also plan active outings like visit to zoo or walking through parks
Children are first-rate learners and pick up quickly what they see. You must project yourself as a role model by adhering to healthy eating habits
and regular physical activities. They will surely follow you.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/child-obesity-facts-and-treatment-356985.html
Major Causes of Child Obesity
Children take junk food, specifically food with low nutrition and high calories. The physical activities of the children have also reduced as they misuse more time with computers, playing video games and television.
Facts of childhood obesity :-
* Carelessness in food, alarming increase in the number of children and teenagers developing Type-2 Diabetes (also termed as adult-onset diabetes) due to being overweight.
* High levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure, that are some main risk factors for development of heart diseases are found in most of the obese children.
* Sleep Apnea is considered as the most severe problem faced by obese children. In the sleep apnea (interruption of breath while sleeping) may lead to other problems like difficulty in learning and memory.
* Overweight children are on higher risk of developing liver diseases, orthopedic problems and asthma.
* 70% oboist teenagers retain their overweight and obese condition even during their adulthood.
Treatment Options
Some of the treatment options of Child Obesity include:
* Healthy eating – Nutritional diet makes your child healthy not fatty. Be supportive to him to make them take care of their diet and physical activities.
* Less Overeating – Avoid high calories food and low nutritional food for your children.
* Participate in Physical Activities – Encourage your children to participate in physical activities rather than engaging themselves in entertaining activities that result in overweight condition in childhood which may also follow during adulthood.
Help your child
Parents have to play active role in ensuring that their child does not become overweight.
* Never neglect overweight child. If you accept your child the way he is, the chances are more that the child will accept the condition and feel good about them.
* Never ignore you child. Let his express his feelings about his overweight condition. They can assess their overweight condition better than anybody else.
* Help your child loose overweight.
Most Effective option to get rid of Child Obesity
One of the most effective methods of treating and preventing child obesity for the parents is to encourage their child for engaging in physical activities
* Encourage your child to participate in sports activities like, cricket basketball, dance or gymnastics and many more
* Give time to your child to do active tasks like vacuuming, watering plants, making beds etc Also plan active outings like visit to zoo or walking through parks
Children are first-rate learners and pick up quickly what they see. You must project yourself as a role model by adhering to healthy eating habits
and regular physical activities. They will surely follow you.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/child-obesity-facts-and-treatment-356985.html
Is your Child a Fussy Eater?
If you have a child that?s a fussy eater, it?s setting you up for your child being a fussy eater for their entire life. That means it is up to you to do eliminate picky eating at mealtime. Your child turning up their nose is more than just annoying, it means your child is missing out on a wide range of foods that are brain boosting nutrients, covered earlier in the book.
Start at an early age to ensure your child enjoys eating a wide variety of foods that are healthy for them, because if you wait until they are older their habits will be more and more ingrained and you?ll be dealing with a nay sayer, and it gets a lot harder to change their mind as they get older.
My Child Will Only Eat.......
Which is it? Spaghetti hoops? Chocolate yogurt? Potatoes? Baked beans? If you haven?t said it yourself about your child, you?ve likely heard another parent, desperate that their child will only eat?.
If you didn?t nip your child?s fussy eating when he/she was an infant, there may still be some hope, but you shouldn?t wait any longer ? act now. Start by taking a tour through your fridge and cupboards and remove all those items that are so desired by your child. Once you do that, when they ask for them you have the perfect reply ? there isn?t any. Replace those items with healthier alternatives. For example, if they love chocolate yogurt you could add carob powder to make it healthier. If they love spaghetti hoops you could cook up whole wheat spaghetti and serve with fresh tomato sauce. Replace soda and fizzy drinks with orange juice and sparkling water. You?ll need to make the changes gradually, and be patient and sneaky if necessary. Oh yes and be persistent ? don?t give up.
Your attitude to food is very important. If you don?t like your greens, how do you expect that your child?s going to be fond of them. When you are serving different foods watch the expression on your face, so that it?s not giving your child any hints. If veggies don?t? excite you, it?s time you retrain your brain so that you can show the necessary enthusiasm for your child.
No Punishment, Reward, Or Bribe
If you have a fussy eater, try removing emotion from mealtime. Most food fads are actually emotionally driven. It?s often a method your child uses to assert their independence, so the fewer emotions you can bring to the table the better it will be. For example, don?t look hurt if your vegetable casserole isn?t the hit you hoped it would be, or if your child eats everything on their plate don?t go crazy with emotion. You should also never punish, reward, or bribe your child to eat a certain food[s], nor should you ever force a food upon them. That?s a sure way for rejection.
From the earliest age, eating needs to be something your child does to satisfy their appetite not to please you. It also doesn?t need to be a tidy activity. Don?t let your need to feed your child govern their eating. Rather it should be governed by their appetite. It?s normal for them to want to eat more food one day than the next.
Eating should be an activity that?s independent. As soon as your child is able to use their hands or spoon, whatever is easiest, and yes messy is good, in fact, encourage them to do so. Don?t worry about manners at an early age. Let eating be fun and then you can teach then tidy eating later.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/is-your-child-a-fussy-eater-320999.html
Start at an early age to ensure your child enjoys eating a wide variety of foods that are healthy for them, because if you wait until they are older their habits will be more and more ingrained and you?ll be dealing with a nay sayer, and it gets a lot harder to change their mind as they get older.
My Child Will Only Eat.......
Which is it? Spaghetti hoops? Chocolate yogurt? Potatoes? Baked beans? If you haven?t said it yourself about your child, you?ve likely heard another parent, desperate that their child will only eat?.
If you didn?t nip your child?s fussy eating when he/she was an infant, there may still be some hope, but you shouldn?t wait any longer ? act now. Start by taking a tour through your fridge and cupboards and remove all those items that are so desired by your child. Once you do that, when they ask for them you have the perfect reply ? there isn?t any. Replace those items with healthier alternatives. For example, if they love chocolate yogurt you could add carob powder to make it healthier. If they love spaghetti hoops you could cook up whole wheat spaghetti and serve with fresh tomato sauce. Replace soda and fizzy drinks with orange juice and sparkling water. You?ll need to make the changes gradually, and be patient and sneaky if necessary. Oh yes and be persistent ? don?t give up.
Your attitude to food is very important. If you don?t like your greens, how do you expect that your child?s going to be fond of them. When you are serving different foods watch the expression on your face, so that it?s not giving your child any hints. If veggies don?t? excite you, it?s time you retrain your brain so that you can show the necessary enthusiasm for your child.
No Punishment, Reward, Or Bribe
If you have a fussy eater, try removing emotion from mealtime. Most food fads are actually emotionally driven. It?s often a method your child uses to assert their independence, so the fewer emotions you can bring to the table the better it will be. For example, don?t look hurt if your vegetable casserole isn?t the hit you hoped it would be, or if your child eats everything on their plate don?t go crazy with emotion. You should also never punish, reward, or bribe your child to eat a certain food[s], nor should you ever force a food upon them. That?s a sure way for rejection.
From the earliest age, eating needs to be something your child does to satisfy their appetite not to please you. It also doesn?t need to be a tidy activity. Don?t let your need to feed your child govern their eating. Rather it should be governed by their appetite. It?s normal for them to want to eat more food one day than the next.
Eating should be an activity that?s independent. As soon as your child is able to use their hands or spoon, whatever is easiest, and yes messy is good, in fact, encourage them to do so. Don?t worry about manners at an early age. Let eating be fun and then you can teach then tidy eating later.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/is-your-child-a-fussy-eater-320999.html
Is it Possible to Increase Child
The nutrition your child receives from infancy through his or her formative years is essential not only to building a strong body, but also to achieving optimal mental and intellectual ability as well as emotional health. This is why the way you feed your child is generally considered an important part of good parenting.
Recent advances in nutritional neuroscience show that particular nutrients have certain affects on the development of the human brain, which influence intelligence, mood, and behavior.
The brain of a human fetus grows rapidly from the 10th to 18th week of pregnancy. During this time the fetus develops thousands of brain cells, called neurons, every minute. Moreover, these neurons begin to develop into a system of interlocking connections, forming essentially a network of specialized nerve cells that can have long-term effects on the child?s development. Therefore, it is important for the mother to eat nutritious foods during this time.
This process of rapid growth and development of the brain continues for about 2 years after birth. Just as a car needs fuel, proper nutrition during this important developmental stage is essential. As a matter of fact, malnutrition, or shortages of essential nutrients, during this period can have devastating effects on the nervous system and neurological development as well as physical growth.
Although the total number of neurons doesn't increase much beyond the age of two, the number of connections that take place between them continues to develop dramatically over time. When a baby is born, every neuron in the cerebral cortex ? the outermost layer of the brain ? can connect with about 2,500 other neurons. By the time the child reaches the age of two or three, that number has increased to 15,000.
The connections formed within a child's brain are vital to memory, cognition, and learning. These connections are the conduits along which the electrical impulses that make up our thoughts travel. During the most prominent learning years, children are literally hard-wiring the ways in which their brains work every minute.
For example, as very young children develop language skills repeating words again and again, they literally hard-wire the images they see in the world around them with the sounds they make. Every thought a young child has is represented by a 'ripple' of activity across the network of neurons within his or her brain. Repeated thoughts and actions, whether related to speech or movement, reinforce and strengthen neurological pathways. Moreover, as the child develops more advanced skills, like crawling and walking, the connections from infancy that are no longer needed weaken dramatically. Unlike other organs in the body, the brain is constantly renewing and restructuring itself.
The connections that form within the brain, called dendrites, are very important to a child?s physical, mental, and emotional development. The places where one dendrite meets another are similar to the gaps in a spark plug. As dendrites bridge these gaps, synapses are created. In other words, as dendrites ?spark? across these gaps in synapses, messages are sent from one neuron to another. The way in which these synapses traffic information?a process called neurotransmission?within the brain is crucial to the healthy functioning of the body as well as the development of the intellect.
The parts of the brain that send and receive messages are made up of essential fats, such as those found in fish and seeds; the phospholipids present in eggs and organ meats; and amino acids, which make up the raw material of protein. The message itself, known as a neurotransmitter, is in most cases made up of amino acids. Different amino acids make different neurotransmitters. For example, the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps a child to feel happy, is made from tryptophan. Adrenalin and dopamine, which keep children motivated, are made from phenylalanine. However, turning an amino acid into a neurotransmitter is no simple task. Enzymes in the brain, which depend on vitamins, minerals, and special amino acids work to accomplish this task. These vitamins and minerals also control the steady supply of fuel? blood sugar or glucose?that powers each neuron. From all this, you can see how the food your children eat does more than build their bodies. It also helps to develop their brains, from the neurons themselves to the synapses that transmit information throughout the mind and body. Thus, food plays a vital role in determining how your children think and feel. Although the basic structure of your child's brain is determined by genetics, the nutrition they receive and what they learn helps develop that structure, and ultimately their intelligence and ability to learn. It also affects how they adapt, and whether they have happy and fulfilling lives. While you can't change genes, you can control your child's nutrition and learning environment. For this reason, one of your main tasks, as a parent, is to ensure that your child receives optimum nutrition and a stimulating environment that encourages his or her capacity for learning. In the context of the development of your child's brain, optimum nutrition is all about ensuring that your child gets sufficient quantities of five essential foods, while avoiding some others.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/is-it-possible-to-increase-child-313354.html
Recent advances in nutritional neuroscience show that particular nutrients have certain affects on the development of the human brain, which influence intelligence, mood, and behavior.
The brain of a human fetus grows rapidly from the 10th to 18th week of pregnancy. During this time the fetus develops thousands of brain cells, called neurons, every minute. Moreover, these neurons begin to develop into a system of interlocking connections, forming essentially a network of specialized nerve cells that can have long-term effects on the child?s development. Therefore, it is important for the mother to eat nutritious foods during this time.
This process of rapid growth and development of the brain continues for about 2 years after birth. Just as a car needs fuel, proper nutrition during this important developmental stage is essential. As a matter of fact, malnutrition, or shortages of essential nutrients, during this period can have devastating effects on the nervous system and neurological development as well as physical growth.
Although the total number of neurons doesn't increase much beyond the age of two, the number of connections that take place between them continues to develop dramatically over time. When a baby is born, every neuron in the cerebral cortex ? the outermost layer of the brain ? can connect with about 2,500 other neurons. By the time the child reaches the age of two or three, that number has increased to 15,000.
The connections formed within a child's brain are vital to memory, cognition, and learning. These connections are the conduits along which the electrical impulses that make up our thoughts travel. During the most prominent learning years, children are literally hard-wiring the ways in which their brains work every minute.
For example, as very young children develop language skills repeating words again and again, they literally hard-wire the images they see in the world around them with the sounds they make. Every thought a young child has is represented by a 'ripple' of activity across the network of neurons within his or her brain. Repeated thoughts and actions, whether related to speech or movement, reinforce and strengthen neurological pathways. Moreover, as the child develops more advanced skills, like crawling and walking, the connections from infancy that are no longer needed weaken dramatically. Unlike other organs in the body, the brain is constantly renewing and restructuring itself.
The connections that form within the brain, called dendrites, are very important to a child?s physical, mental, and emotional development. The places where one dendrite meets another are similar to the gaps in a spark plug. As dendrites bridge these gaps, synapses are created. In other words, as dendrites ?spark? across these gaps in synapses, messages are sent from one neuron to another. The way in which these synapses traffic information?a process called neurotransmission?within the brain is crucial to the healthy functioning of the body as well as the development of the intellect.
The parts of the brain that send and receive messages are made up of essential fats, such as those found in fish and seeds; the phospholipids present in eggs and organ meats; and amino acids, which make up the raw material of protein. The message itself, known as a neurotransmitter, is in most cases made up of amino acids. Different amino acids make different neurotransmitters. For example, the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps a child to feel happy, is made from tryptophan. Adrenalin and dopamine, which keep children motivated, are made from phenylalanine. However, turning an amino acid into a neurotransmitter is no simple task. Enzymes in the brain, which depend on vitamins, minerals, and special amino acids work to accomplish this task. These vitamins and minerals also control the steady supply of fuel? blood sugar or glucose?that powers each neuron. From all this, you can see how the food your children eat does more than build their bodies. It also helps to develop their brains, from the neurons themselves to the synapses that transmit information throughout the mind and body. Thus, food plays a vital role in determining how your children think and feel. Although the basic structure of your child's brain is determined by genetics, the nutrition they receive and what they learn helps develop that structure, and ultimately their intelligence and ability to learn. It also affects how they adapt, and whether they have happy and fulfilling lives. While you can't change genes, you can control your child's nutrition and learning environment. For this reason, one of your main tasks, as a parent, is to ensure that your child receives optimum nutrition and a stimulating environment that encourages his or her capacity for learning. In the context of the development of your child's brain, optimum nutrition is all about ensuring that your child gets sufficient quantities of five essential foods, while avoiding some others.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/is-it-possible-to-increase-child-313354.html
How Food Effects your Child's Brain?
Whether your child is one year old or 16, you want to know what you can do to help them be all they can be! Even though there's obviously an inherited aspect to intelligence, I am going to show you how optimum nutrition promotes all-round intelligence by nourishing your child's brain.
One of the most limiting concepts of modern science is the idea that our mind and body are separate entities. Unfortunately, it's not just scientists who live by this false notion. It stands true for all of us.( When your child suffers from difficulty in concentrating, is behaving badly or is struggling to read, does the thought of him/her being poorly nourished strikes your mind?(( If it does not, it is time to wake up. All these characteristics and behavior traits are governed by a network of complex, interconnecting brain cells, shaped by none other than what your child eats on a daily basis.
Fact is that most of our children are struggling to keep up. They're living with perpetual tiredness; are difficulty in concentrating on their studies, behaving erratically or feeling anxious, stressful, irritable or depressed all the time. At such a tender age, they are experiencing sleeping problems. There is sufficient scientific evidence to prove, that too many children suffer from mental health problems ranging from attention deficit disorder to autism, hyperactivity and dyslexia; or they're simply not achieving their full potential in school and at home because at times they don't feel good about themselves resulting in difficulty to focus and learn. Some of these kids are simply not able to achieve their full potential in school and at home, solely because of the way they feel inside.
Fortunately, study after study shows that what you feed your child can and will increase intelligence, attention span, concentration, and problem-solving ability, as well as improve emotional response, mood and physical coordination.
If only you'd attempt to understand how your child's brain works, you can eradicate some of these problems and help him/her navigate these crucial development years with considerable ease. Certain nutrients (are absolutely essential for your child's growth and nourishment. Ideally he( or she should have been raised on these nutrients right from conception, but (it's still not late.
You, as a parent can make up for the loss, merely (by changing the child's food habits. By doing all that, as suggested in the book "How to Increase Child's IQ' you will be able to fundamentally impact the way your child thinks,( feels and behaves not just in the present, but also in the future as he/she( grows up into a mature adult.((((
The time is ripe for change and you can help make it happen! (
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/how-food-effects-your-childs-brain-307068.html
One of the most limiting concepts of modern science is the idea that our mind and body are separate entities. Unfortunately, it's not just scientists who live by this false notion. It stands true for all of us.( When your child suffers from difficulty in concentrating, is behaving badly or is struggling to read, does the thought of him/her being poorly nourished strikes your mind?(( If it does not, it is time to wake up. All these characteristics and behavior traits are governed by a network of complex, interconnecting brain cells, shaped by none other than what your child eats on a daily basis.
Fact is that most of our children are struggling to keep up. They're living with perpetual tiredness; are difficulty in concentrating on their studies, behaving erratically or feeling anxious, stressful, irritable or depressed all the time. At such a tender age, they are experiencing sleeping problems. There is sufficient scientific evidence to prove, that too many children suffer from mental health problems ranging from attention deficit disorder to autism, hyperactivity and dyslexia; or they're simply not achieving their full potential in school and at home because at times they don't feel good about themselves resulting in difficulty to focus and learn. Some of these kids are simply not able to achieve their full potential in school and at home, solely because of the way they feel inside.
Fortunately, study after study shows that what you feed your child can and will increase intelligence, attention span, concentration, and problem-solving ability, as well as improve emotional response, mood and physical coordination.
If only you'd attempt to understand how your child's brain works, you can eradicate some of these problems and help him/her navigate these crucial development years with considerable ease. Certain nutrients (are absolutely essential for your child's growth and nourishment. Ideally he( or she should have been raised on these nutrients right from conception, but (it's still not late.
You, as a parent can make up for the loss, merely (by changing the child's food habits. By doing all that, as suggested in the book "How to Increase Child's IQ' you will be able to fundamentally impact the way your child thinks,( feels and behaves not just in the present, but also in the future as he/she( grows up into a mature adult.((((
The time is ripe for change and you can help make it happen! (
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/how-food-effects-your-childs-brain-307068.html
Current Trends in Child Care Center
Development of civilian child care sector is virtually driven by two causes: mothers’ employment alongside with children’s development. Affordable child care stimulates maternal employment and contributes to gender equality. At the same time, high quality child care is impossible with cost minimization, as the two goals – affordability and quality care are conflicting. A number of governmental policies and subsidiary programs have been introduced to guarantee quality care by setting the standards and offering financial support, but the increasing numbers of women willing to make a carrier that drive the demand for services still significantly outperforms the quantity of professional non maternal services offered on the market.
In earlier ages women were both primary child care givers and economically productive members of society. In the 20th century, child care became more then simply a natural species response, but a dedicated work that required quality knowledge. While mothers were given an important emotional role in the family, the number of women employed with young children continued to increase being pushed by equal opportunity movement. In 1995 there have been 63% of employed women with children under six years old, the rate went up by 5% since 1994. The ideal of a fully dedicated mother still remains strong in society, but working mothers that belong to the baby-boom generation are trying to move beyond the guilt of employment. The three major goals of child care create the economic and ethical dilemma for society. The first presupposition is that child care stimulates mother’s employment which is beneficial for the family and society overall. Second presupposition is that high quality children development programs can enhance education and foster child’s mental and physical development whether mother are working or not. In both cases families themselves are expected to pay for the services, are they are the primary beneficiaries. Thirdly, child care can be used with ethnic minorities as a way to stimulate the socialization process to the cultural mainstream of disadvantages and poor children. In this case, taxpayers are the ones to cover costs of child care for the poor. As such, the three major purposes of child care establish different priorities and, consequently, have different assumptions on who has to cover the costs. The ongoing debate is centered on the three dimensions of the issue – low cost, but large in quantity child care, high quality, but expensive child care centers, and governmental compensation to the poor as a way to control crime and have children off the streets.
When it comes to speaking about employment opportunities and child care costs, the situation becomes even more complex. With the growing tendency of single women to strive for self actualization and carrier development, inadequate and too expensive child care can alter mother’s carrier in a number of ways. As mothers may be forced to come late at work because of child care problems, they may be compromising on low paid but absenteeism tolerant employment options to get an opportunity to deliver care to own children. Aside from this, mothers often might simply be unable to afford quality child care that ensures safety of their children to choose to be employed. Consequently, too expensive child care services for children of single mothers are a recent issue brought up by the pressure of emancipation that requires prompt attention.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/current-trends-in-child-care-center-170360.html
In earlier ages women were both primary child care givers and economically productive members of society. In the 20th century, child care became more then simply a natural species response, but a dedicated work that required quality knowledge. While mothers were given an important emotional role in the family, the number of women employed with young children continued to increase being pushed by equal opportunity movement. In 1995 there have been 63% of employed women with children under six years old, the rate went up by 5% since 1994. The ideal of a fully dedicated mother still remains strong in society, but working mothers that belong to the baby-boom generation are trying to move beyond the guilt of employment. The three major goals of child care create the economic and ethical dilemma for society. The first presupposition is that child care stimulates mother’s employment which is beneficial for the family and society overall. Second presupposition is that high quality children development programs can enhance education and foster child’s mental and physical development whether mother are working or not. In both cases families themselves are expected to pay for the services, are they are the primary beneficiaries. Thirdly, child care can be used with ethnic minorities as a way to stimulate the socialization process to the cultural mainstream of disadvantages and poor children. In this case, taxpayers are the ones to cover costs of child care for the poor. As such, the three major purposes of child care establish different priorities and, consequently, have different assumptions on who has to cover the costs. The ongoing debate is centered on the three dimensions of the issue – low cost, but large in quantity child care, high quality, but expensive child care centers, and governmental compensation to the poor as a way to control crime and have children off the streets.
When it comes to speaking about employment opportunities and child care costs, the situation becomes even more complex. With the growing tendency of single women to strive for self actualization and carrier development, inadequate and too expensive child care can alter mother’s carrier in a number of ways. As mothers may be forced to come late at work because of child care problems, they may be compromising on low paid but absenteeism tolerant employment options to get an opportunity to deliver care to own children. Aside from this, mothers often might simply be unable to afford quality child care that ensures safety of their children to choose to be employed. Consequently, too expensive child care services for children of single mothers are a recent issue brought up by the pressure of emancipation that requires prompt attention.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/current-trends-in-child-care-center-170360.html
Child Care Development: What All Carers Should Know
The environment that a child grows up in is a very important element in his development. As longer hours are spent by children in child care facilities, it is important for administrators of these centers to be more diligent in looking into their programs for child care development.
Essential to a child's development are the approaches that a facility takes in his learning. Aside from the physical factors crucial to his progress, the child must also be emotionally, intellectually, and socially stimulated.
What types of development should be nurtured in child care centers?
Child care development comes in various forms. One is social development, to which child care facilities may greatly contribute if well-planned activities are properly implemented. When a child is in a day care center, for instance, he is constantly around other children, with whom he plays, works, and eats.
The child also learns how to deal with s - in this case teachers, volunteers, or caregivers who need to be well-trained in child care development. When these professionals show care and concern for their wards, the children react positively and would enjoy their stay in child care facilities more.
Child care development in these facilities also comes in the form of emotional maturity. As children interact with kids of various cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, they obtain a deeper understanding of diversity and tolerance for others.
Another form of child care development that can be nurtured are language skills. Even toddlers learn a lot by uttering seemingly nonsensical words, as these are the first steps to language development. Children also take to singing naturally, which also helps in their linguistic learning.
Physical activities, a necessary program in almost all child care facilities, contribute to child care development in a variety of ways. Motor skills, both fine and gross, are enhanced via free play, playground time, and individual work such as painting and playing with puzzles.
Moreover, child care development is at its best when the facility also offers feeding programs. Balanced diets are essential for child care development because kids need proper nutrition in order to progress optimally. When they are given nutritious food, they learn better and are less irritable or hyperactive.
There are many instances when child care development is not easily detected at first, but is manifested in the long term. When there are enough activities to stimulate children's creativity and interactive skills, we can say that the facility satisfactorily fulfills its role in child care development.
When we speak of outdoor gates, we refer to the security of the center's perimeter itself. Even during outdoor play, the children must not be able to open the main gates by themselves and possibly venture out into the street. Indoor gates refer to the contraptions attached to staircases and other areas of the house or establishment where access to them may pose dangers to the children.
For the child's safety, all staircases must be blocked by a safety gate which no child should be able to open without assistance from an . In the same vein, washrooms and toilets must have all the features necessary for it to be child-friendly - that is, toilet seats must be at levels accessible for kids; there should be no bathtubs which could pose dangers to toddlers; and sinks must be within their reach.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/child-care-development-what-all-carers-should-know-280483.html
Essential to a child's development are the approaches that a facility takes in his learning. Aside from the physical factors crucial to his progress, the child must also be emotionally, intellectually, and socially stimulated.
What types of development should be nurtured in child care centers?
Child care development comes in various forms. One is social development, to which child care facilities may greatly contribute if well-planned activities are properly implemented. When a child is in a day care center, for instance, he is constantly around other children, with whom he plays, works, and eats.
The child also learns how to deal with s - in this case teachers, volunteers, or caregivers who need to be well-trained in child care development. When these professionals show care and concern for their wards, the children react positively and would enjoy their stay in child care facilities more.
Child care development in these facilities also comes in the form of emotional maturity. As children interact with kids of various cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, they obtain a deeper understanding of diversity and tolerance for others.
Another form of child care development that can be nurtured are language skills. Even toddlers learn a lot by uttering seemingly nonsensical words, as these are the first steps to language development. Children also take to singing naturally, which also helps in their linguistic learning.
Physical activities, a necessary program in almost all child care facilities, contribute to child care development in a variety of ways. Motor skills, both fine and gross, are enhanced via free play, playground time, and individual work such as painting and playing with puzzles.
Moreover, child care development is at its best when the facility also offers feeding programs. Balanced diets are essential for child care development because kids need proper nutrition in order to progress optimally. When they are given nutritious food, they learn better and are less irritable or hyperactive.
There are many instances when child care development is not easily detected at first, but is manifested in the long term. When there are enough activities to stimulate children's creativity and interactive skills, we can say that the facility satisfactorily fulfills its role in child care development.
When we speak of outdoor gates, we refer to the security of the center's perimeter itself. Even during outdoor play, the children must not be able to open the main gates by themselves and possibly venture out into the street. Indoor gates refer to the contraptions attached to staircases and other areas of the house or establishment where access to them may pose dangers to the children.
For the child's safety, all staircases must be blocked by a safety gate which no child should be able to open without assistance from an . In the same vein, washrooms and toilets must have all the features necessary for it to be child-friendly - that is, toilet seats must be at levels accessible for kids; there should be no bathtubs which could pose dangers to toddlers; and sinks must be within their reach.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/child-care-development-what-all-carers-should-know-280483.html
How to Get Affordable Child Health Insurance in California
More than one million children in California do not have health insurance. That means these children may be lacking basic well-baby care, vaccinations, and dental care, not to mention necessary care during an illness. Here are the options that are available for affordable child health insurance in California.
Employer Insurance
Most Californians receive health insurance through their employers. This is the most economical form of insurance, as the employer usually pays part of the premium. However, small companies may not be able to offer affordable insurance to their employees.
Government Assistance
The California state government offers several programs to help families afford health insurance for their children:
* Medi-Cal is a public health insurance program for low-income children and families. It provides free comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
* The Healthy Families Program provides low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage to children whose families do not qualify for Medi-Cal but cannot afford other health insurance.
* Some local coalitions offer health insurance programs to families that do not qualify for either of these programs.
For more information on these state-sponsored programs visit the California Department of Insurance at: insurance.ca.gov.
Private Insurance
While private insurance is the most expensive form of health insurance, it's the choice for over 600,000 Californians and may be your best choice. With private health insurance you have many options to choose from, including HMOs, PPOs, and traditional comprehensive insurance.
To find affordable private insurance, begin your search by going to an insurance comparison website. This type of website makes it fast and easy for you to get and compare quotes from different health insurance companies. All you do is fill out one simple form with information about yourself and your insurance needs. Once the form is completed, you'll soon begin to receive quotes from multiple A-rated health insurance companies (see link below).
Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/health-insurance.html or click on the following link to get California child health insurance rates from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more insurance tips in their Articles section, and get answers to your questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/how-to-get-affordable-child-health-insurance-in-california-276485.html
Employer Insurance
Most Californians receive health insurance through their employers. This is the most economical form of insurance, as the employer usually pays part of the premium. However, small companies may not be able to offer affordable insurance to their employees.
Government Assistance
The California state government offers several programs to help families afford health insurance for their children:
* Medi-Cal is a public health insurance program for low-income children and families. It provides free comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
* The Healthy Families Program provides low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage to children whose families do not qualify for Medi-Cal but cannot afford other health insurance.
* Some local coalitions offer health insurance programs to families that do not qualify for either of these programs.
For more information on these state-sponsored programs visit the California Department of Insurance at: insurance.ca.gov.
Private Insurance
While private insurance is the most expensive form of health insurance, it's the choice for over 600,000 Californians and may be your best choice. With private health insurance you have many options to choose from, including HMOs, PPOs, and traditional comprehensive insurance.
To find affordable private insurance, begin your search by going to an insurance comparison website. This type of website makes it fast and easy for you to get and compare quotes from different health insurance companies. All you do is fill out one simple form with information about yourself and your insurance needs. Once the form is completed, you'll soon begin to receive quotes from multiple A-rated health insurance companies (see link below).
Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/health-insurance.html or click on the following link to get California child health insurance rates from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more insurance tips in their Articles section, and get answers to your questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/how-to-get-affordable-child-health-insurance-in-california-276485.html
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