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Insomnia In Children?
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As sad as it sounds, it's very true. Daily stresses are affecting our children's sleeping patterns. According to the Journal of Adolescent Health, the way kids deal with personal problems might give them insomnia.As a parent, it's worrisome to know that your children may not catch all their Zzz's. How do we handle it and approach them to find out what is wrong? Should we consider stress management workshops instead of swimming lessons? As strange as that may sound, the better prepared they are in life, the better off they may be in the long run. One thing is for sure, the more confident they are and the better their coping skills are, the less likely they will be to experience depression, drug use, have problems at school, work and with their overall health.
Some of the negative behaviors that should be paid attention to are emotional eating, always being sick, being accident prone, denial, smoking and drinking. As adults, we may use these behaviors to cope as well. Is it possible that our children are imitating our own coping skills?
To help us and our children deal with stress more positively, please consider the following tips: learn new breathing techniques, take up a new hobby, get a pet, learn proper time management and organizational skills, and last but not least, exercise.
Wendy, Bsc.DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"No matter how frustrated you may feel, there is Always a way out. In every situation that arises, we choose to be powerful or powerless. It may not always feel like it, but it is a choice"
Labels: children
The solutions given on the Diet Supplement Information Bureau's website are just as relevant for teen girls as adult women. It presents a well rounded approach including alternative therapies, supplements, herbs and lifestyle choices. Worth the read.
Is it ADHD…or Not?
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If you have kids, like me, you've probably heard about ADHD through parents or teachers at your child's school.ADHD is a behavioral disorder that has hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and lack of attention as its main presenting characteristics. It is said that it affects 5-10% of the school-age kids around the world, and is observed more in boys than girls. There has always been controversy about the diagnosis of this condition and the medication used. This recent study may add more fuel to that fire.
A new UCLA study revealed that only about half of the children with ADHD who participated in the study present the cognitive defects generally associated with the condition. There was also an issue about the long term effectiveness of the medications. When they compared children in areas where medication is rarely prescribed to those in areas where it's more common, the study showed that at the time of adolescence there were few differences seen between the disorder's characteristics in both populations.
One thing is for sure, it is important to learn and understand more, as individuals and professionals, about this condition before “diagnosing” a child.
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take Care, Take Control and Enjoy!
Labels: behavior changes, children, emotions, kids, Teens
My son was diagnosed with ADHD, but there is no way to prove that he has it or doesn't have it. The diagnosis set us on a path that I wish we did not have to travel. He took all kinds of medications and saw counselors and psychiatrists, but none of it did anything except make him feel "less than." His self-esteem took a huge hit and he felt awful about himself. Finally I'd had enough because I didn't think the meds were helping him at all and I was sick of dragging him to doctors all the time. So, I told him we'd made a mistake and he really did not have ADHD. The look of relief on his face was palpable, and he has been a much happier and well-adjusted kid ever since.
My son was diagnosed with ADD (ADHD minus the hyperactivity) when he was in grade 1. Through the ADHD clinic here in Vancouver, BC, he took part in a nutritional study along with a group of kids who are seen in the same clinic. He was one of 1/3 of the children studied who turned out to have a ZINC DEFICIENCY. Supplementing this micronutrient has made a world of difference and we are so thankful for this find. HOWEVER, don't automatically start supplementing with zinc as it can negatively affect copper absorption. Talk to your doctor about a blood test for zinc deficiency.
It is horrible that any medical professional would treat a child (or adult) with ADHD as "less than." In the 80s, my younger brother was diagnosed with ADD, and was made to feel "less than" by most of his grade school teachers and peers. (I have it, too, but was diagnosed much later.)
Most people associate ADHD with the stigma attached to it, and no one draws attention to the POSITIVES of having ADHD. (Yes, there are positives!) People with ADHD are naturally very bright individuals. We are also sensitive and empathetic. We are also very creative.
To anyone who knows someone with ADHD, I'd like to suggest reading a series of books: "Driven to Distraction"; "Answers to Distraction"; and "Delivered from Distraction." These books give real insight by a psychologist (Hallowell) who also has ADHD. It explains a lot about the condition, discusses how it affects lives, marriages, families, and gives ideas of how to "treat" ADHD, both with and without medication.
Is Your Child Overweight?
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The answer may depend on the parent. A recent survey shows that many parents don't see their children as overweight or obese, even when the numbers indicate that this is so. In some cases, parents even become offended when their child's weight is questioned.Nutrition Specialist
Labels: children
Ok so we are all in "denial" of some sort are we not? I have one teenager with a weight problem and I too battle the bulge, but can admit this. But I had a wake up call last night watching a TV show & here I was critisising the mum for feeding her kid what made her happy. Took a look in the mirror!
We don't need to give them bad food to be happy, we need to give them good food and ignore the childish complaints, after all they are the children & we are the mothers
Do You See Yourself in Your Child?
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I remember when I was in 4th grade my dad came to visit the school. The teacher took me with her to the isle to greet him and they began talking about how good I was doing. I will never forget when she said, “Your daughter is a very good student, but GEEZ it seems she has ants in her pants because she cannot sit still!” Now that I have a kid and can see his “hyperactivity”, I understand where it comes from, at least in part.It has been known by behavioral professionals and experts that certain disorders and behaviors run in families as part of a genetic pattern. Chances of having kids with mood problems are eight times higher in parents with Bipolar Disorder. Also, the risk of having depression increases three times on those with parents who have also had this condition.
Although it is not right to diagnose ourselves through our kids’ conditions, there is no doubt that more parents have to confront their own “demons” of the past when they begin to learn about their son’s or daughter’s situation.
Perhaps this will help us understanding our kids’ life and how to make it better for them.
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take Care, Take Control and Enjoy!
Labels: children, DNA and genes, emotions, kids, Mental Health, Parenting
Let's Raise Healthier Kids!
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It's no secret that kids are getting heavier and heavier, just like adults. It is our responsibility to teach our children to take care of themselves just like we teach them other things like to be honest, clean and to study. With children, unlike adults, staying active is easier because they have so much energy and they love it. We are, or have become, the lazy ones!
Making fitness a priority is a must. When kids start young, studies show they will be more likely to continue these habits in their older years. Whether the whole family decides to get involved in a soccer or volley ball game on weekends, or whether you decide to spend 15 minutes after work throwing the ball back and forth or playing Frisbee, etc, it is time well spent. Older kids can even plan their workouts like adults to help accountability if they have a goal in mind that they want to reach.
Of course, having support is key. Not everyone has the internal motivation of an athlete and kids truly do well with support from their family and friends. Older kids with friends can set goals to train for races for example. Younger kids can be supported enough with cheers from their own parents.
A great place to start, when kids are young, is to get them involved in activities outside school like dance, gymnastics, martial arts, sports, etc. If you see your kid has a special interest or ability in one activity, encourage it and maybe drop other activities to make more time for this one. What a better way to promote wellness than encouraging them to do something they enjoy. This goes for anyone!
The lives of children are shaped by their families more than anything else. Using this as an incentive for yourself to make healthy changes in your own life is a great way to help your child and yourself! Read on for 20 ways to help raise healthier kids.
Renee Brunetti LD/N, NSCA-CPT, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
“If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?”
Labels: children
Kids and Sleep Equal a Healthier Life!
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Studies are now showing that less than an extra hour of sleep each night can actually make kids thinner in life and more alert. To me, this theory makes great sense. When my kids don't get enough sleep, especially during the summer months or when school is out, their normal energetic demeanor changes and they are just somewhat lazy all day.I love the fact that I finally saw this in writing! More now than ever, I am working to get my act together and strive to have my kids get sufficient hours of sleep. Like any parent, I want them to have a healthy and positive life.
Establishing a regimented sleep routine can benefit the whole family; a routine helps make for a happy, well-rested family.
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to concentrate on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Schools Are Focusing on Getting Kids into Fitness!
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Currently, there is a program being offered in schools to promote exercise to our kids as a way to get and stay healthy, without it being a chore. This is a great reference for other schools nationwide to get kids motivated and on track with their health!I think that kids need to focus more on fitting in exercise. Although a healthy diet is recommended, exercise is often put on the back burner and I think that if we can get the kids to participate in a program like this, or something similar, it will help them tremendously.
Pediatricians Say Cold Drugs For Kids Neither Safe Nor Effective!
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For years, many of us have been giving our children cold and flu over-the-counter medications like Dimetapp, Robitussin, and Pediacare. Recently, drug makers pulled from sale oral cough and cold medicines for children under the age of 2. Now petitioners are claiming that they are not only useless, but potentially unsafe for kids as old as 6.Nutrition Specialist
Labels: children
What is the School's Role in Childhood Obesity?
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Was it appropriate for the school to give this information to a child or should the school have mailed it directly to the parents? What about the role that the school plays in the health of students, should they even get involved by doing health screenings?
Schools are instrumental in teaching our children many important lessons needed for success. With the enormity of the obesity crisis in America, this may be one of the most important lessons students can learn from school.
Nutrition Specialist
Yogurt with Fizz!
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Well, why stop there...how about carbonated juice? Carbonated juice, that sounds very much like soda. Maybe carbonated yogurt is not such a good idea after all.
If you want to get your kids to eat yogurt introduce it to them early on.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“A good meal makes a man feel more charitable toward the world than any sermon.”
Labels: children
The President's Broken Promise: No Child Left Behind
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Support for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was overwhelming as thousands gathered, joined by their children, outside the White House and Congress to rally for its expansion.
Carolyn Taylor, a working mother from Baltimore said, “He [President Bush] said there would be no child left behind. Well, we're getting left behind unless he continues SCHIP.” This program was created for those that fall 'in between' when it comes to health insurance...they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance.
Unfortunately, the voices of these families and of its supporters in Congress fell on deaf ears. President Bush ultimately vetoed the bill that would have renewed and expanded SCHIP. Even more alarming, if the veto stands, there will be more children uninsured than before!!
After reading this article, I consider myself lucky to be able to afford private health insurance. I can only imagine the financial and emotional toll this will take on families nationwide. How can we stand for such neglect??!! I think it is time to be out with the old and in with the new.
I am eager to hear your thoughts too, so don't be shy.
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: children, health care
I to was concerned when I saw the veto, until I saw the details of the plan. We need a better plan. I do not believe 20-25 year olds are children and I don't agree with the straight across the board income. I beleive the income amount needs to vary state to state. I also saw that one idea to pay for it was to increase the tax per gallon of gas from .40 to .90 a gallon. If they do that they will hurt the people they are trying to help! They need to know all the details not just another political tactic.
I agree with Kris. Besides - while I don't mind paying 'some' to assist those less fortunate, the more I end up paying makes ME one of the "less fortunate" !!
Additionally, how many of these are illegal aliens, who are also bleeding our health care system to death? My daughter is waiting for a bed in the one hospital that can do her surgery, but there are so many illegals there - there isn't the space!
Do we just keep 'giving' until we have given the entire country away? How long until 'The People' are no longer able to support the programs the 'government' puts in place? How long before there are more people on 'government assistance' than are off?
HOw can he do this??? Does he not care about the state of our nation? It seems he cares more about helping all of the illegal aliens survive here than he does about helping all of the American citizens who are in trouble and need the assistance. He is just giving it away to others. That is so unnerving. I am one of the people that qualify for the SCHIPS program and now, my kiddos wont have any thing when they get sick. What am I supposed to do now?
We somehow need to tell him we are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore, but what can we do?
STOP blaming "illegals". For once in his administration, the so-called president (I did not capitalize it on purpose) MUST take responsibility for his actions, and you should not lay this at any one else's feet but his. This is NOT a program for which one can become eligible if one is "illegal", so do not let your collective ignorance cause any of you to irrationally behave like the KKK and attempt to find a scapegoat. The only "goat" here is BUSH - the service-avoiding, drug-and-alcohol-abusing, illiterate, poorest excuse for a "leader" we've had since Hoover led us into the Depression.
Actually, I am disappointed in this entire subject. I was hoping this was one place I could go and not be subjected to the political bashing that engulfs all other forums I see. Yes, these issues involve all of us, but I did not sign up for eDiets to voice my political views or listen to others. I was a single mother for 16 years, I raised 4 daughters on a poverty income with no government assistence and little or no child support. They are now all either college grads or in college, paying for themselves, so I am as much or more aware of issues plaguing our children as anyone. However, there are places to voice these issues and I don't believe this is one.
Weight Loss Camps Hold Kids 100% Responsible for Their Own Health
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In real life, weight loss camps have sprung up around the country. These camps are successfully touching all aspects of wellness including nutrition education, fitness, behavioral change, and family involvement. Kids are being motivated to continue on with their weight loss and/or healthy behavior even after they leave the camp. That is true success!
One camp makes a contract with the child and the parent where they tell the parents to “no longer take the responsibility,” making the child fully accountable for their life. How about a parent's camp on how to teach your kids healthy habits from the beginning? After all, children learn by example.
Renee, BS, LD/N, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
“If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?”
Labels: children
Hi Renee,
As a fitness professional and the co-author of Family Fit Plan, child and family fitness is close to my heart. It's my feeling that parents should take a certain amount of responsibility for their childrens' fitness and not just leave it all up to the kids. There's a reason why kids don't move out until they are eighteen or so. Up until about that age, they haven't developed the decision making skills necessary to truly keep them self safe and well. I believe parents should STRONGLY guide their childrens' fitness and health lifestyle, as well as set an example through their own healthy eating and exercise. Parents looking for more solutions can view the free family fitness action plan at www.FamilyFitPlan.com.
Did You Have a Crush on Your Teacher?
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I can still remember my guitar teacher; dark brown, wavy hair, the smell of his clothes from that fragrant tobacco of his pipe, and an accent from Spain that fascinated me!! I was 9 years old and still remember him. I loved to go to my guitar classes and was a very good student too. I guess I wasn’t alone...Psychologists say that an innocent crush on a teacher can help a child perform better in school since he or she “clings” to every single word the teacher says, and try to do his or her best to impress the educator. Kids are also known to go to after school learning activities where the teacher will be participating. Eventually, these school activities may boost the child's learning process.
Although we hear stories about inappropriate student-teacher relationships, generally this kind of “crush” is positive and related to the child's need to look for a role model. Of course, if you notice your son or daughter not talking about the teacher any more or behaving timidly or unusual, this could be a warning of wrong doing. Always keep an eye out for it!
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take care, take control and Enjoy!
Labels: children, Relationships
Young Kids Need to See the Dentist Too!
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Nutrition Specialist
Labels: children, dentist office
Teach Your Children How to Read Food Labels
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With obesity on the rise and the decrease of physical activity in children, why not teach them to read food labels?Knowledge of food labels is one of the first steps in adapting a healthier lifestyle. So teaching children to read food labels is an important part of this process. After all, if children learn how to read food labels they will become informed adults.
The FDA is very supportive of this, they have even partnered with the Cartoon Network “to launch a public education campaign encouraging 9-13 year olds (tweens) to read the nutritional facts on food labels.”
Of course, younger children may not necessarily understand things like cholesterol or trans fat; however, basic knowledge of calories, sugar content and fiber will make a big difference in their overall health.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Years teach us more than books"
Labels: children
Knowing CPR is such a vital skill, even for kids!
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CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a temporary procedure that can be used to maintain some blood flow to the brain, heart, and other vital organs until trained medical personnel are available to provide more advanced treatment.
This skill is taught to individuals to be able to assist people in distress and often many parents learn it when they have kids. But now a new kit is offered schools that is focusing on children learning this lifesaving skill, which is great demographic to target. As the kids learn CPR in school, they can then go home and teach it to their families, and this will make the whole family better able to handle a situation that could require CPR.
I think this is a great lesson to teach the kids and the whole family!
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
Labels: children
Your kid doesn't want to eat that because of your genes
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Parents, the Brussels Sprouts that your child refuses to try is not because it looks funny, but because she actually inherited a fear of it from you. That's right parents, a large study done with both identical and fraternal twin pairs, by Dr. Lucy J. Cooke of University College London, shows that “children's tendency to avoid unfamiliar foods was inherited.” The studies show that nearly 80% of children's tendencies to avoid unfamiliar foods was inherited!
Well parents, apparently the avoidance of certain food may have evolutionary beginnings. It seems that to avoid potential deadly foods, researchers believe our ancestors did not consume certain foods. This was then passed on to through generations, hence the birth of “food neophobia”.
In this study twins were used to help determine if environment or genetics was the cause of “food neophobia”. The research showed that inheritance accounted “for 78 percent of food tendencies”.
However, please remember it is possible to have your children try new foods even if they have a “phobia”. It starts by offering the food repeatedly, as they become more familiar with these foods, it will be easier for them to try it.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Present fears are less than horrible imaginings"
Labels: children, DNA and genes
Make your children's bedtime a priority!
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Over summer vacation, kids are not on a regimented bedtime schedule as they are throughout the school year. But with the new school year approaching, parents need to start thinking about sending the kids to bed early NOW! Since kids have been off from school for a few months, their sleep patterns are currently formatted for the summer time, but parents need to start weaning the kids to a more appropriate bedtime because the school year is upon them.
Studies show that getting adequate sleep before school can make a world of difference in their overall work performance and attitude during their time at school.
The teachers work their hardest to guide and teach our children, so it should be the parents' duty to make sure the kids get adequate sleep so they are able to reach their full potential without having everyone's day be a waste.
Start the week before school resumes and have them start preparing for bed maybe 15 minutes earlier the first night, 20 the second, 30 the third night, etc, until you can average out that they are getting at least nine to 10 hours of sleep before they need to wake the next morning.
Looks like I have my work cut out for me with my two little ones!
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to concentrate on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Should your child be on a budget?
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