Baby Teeth Are More Important That You Might Think

Childhood cavities seem inevitable – nearly every kid gets one at some point or another – and baby teeth aren’t permanent, so it’s no big deal if kids occasionally skip brushing and flossing, right? Pediatric dentists disagree. Despite the common belief that baby teeth aren’t important, taking care of children’s teeth will help them develop healthy adult smiles.

Baby teeth serve the same important functions as adult teeth: kids use them to chew and speak. On top of that, baby teeth preserve the structure of the gumline and “save space” for adult teeth to grow.

Continue Reading: Baby Teeth Are More Important That You Might Think

Cleaning Tips for Teeth With Braces

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/KidsBraces.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – Teenagers love things that are shiny and new — unless those things happen to be attached to their teeth. But with proper care and technique, your …/div/div

Guidelines for Making Kids’ “Screen Time” Meaningful

It’s a fact: Children today are surrounded by all types of digital media from a very young age. Educators, parents and caregivers are left with the task of navigating through a multitude of handheld games, toys and online resources while debating the value of these different options.

Fortunately, research shows that computers can play a positive role in the education of children. Benefits include language, literacy and social development as well as the improvement of important problem-solving skills.

Experts and researchers in early childhood development offer the following guidelines for  computer use by youngsters:

Continue Reading: Guidelines for Making Kids’ “Screen Time” Meaningful

Reward Children’s Accomplishments with Effective Incentives

Celebrating a child’s milestones does wonders for building character and self-esteem, but parents aren’t always sure how to acknowledge their child’s accomplishments. Will a quick hug suffice? Or do you need to throw a party for the entire school class?
Mostly, children just want to know that their parents take an active interest in their lives — you don’t have to rent a houseboat every time a child comes home with an “A” on a test. But you don’t want to ignore a big accomplishment, either, unless you want your child to think that nothing he or she does will ever please you. Besides, commemorating an extra-special moment could help preserve fond memories for years.
For example, if your child’s 4-H project or success on the basketball team ends up in a news article, you should consider getting the article matted and framed. One company, PlaqueMakerPlus, will duplicate the newspaper or magazine article with a full-color imprint on a metal sheet, then frame the article in an elegant black frame. The frame displays a metal plaque containing your choice of text.
Whether displayed on your mantle or on your child’s wall, the framed news article will become a keepsake commemorating your child’s accomplishment — someday, you may even want to show it to your grandchildren.
You can also frame certificates or ribbons, or give your child a memory frame in which to display Scout badges. You can even purchase your own trophies to give to your children.
If the way to the heart is through the stomach, cook your child’s favorite meal or visit a favorite restaurant to celebrate a big accomplishment. You can also reward your child with more of your time. For example, you could commit a day to an activity that your child enjoys, like visiting a theme park, shopping at the mall or going on a hike. Older children and teens tend to want to celebrate with their friends. For them, a sleepover or a party at a mini golf course might be the best way to celebrate their success.
For more information, visit www.plaquemakerplus.com.

Tips to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of Team Sports

When it comes to improving academic performance, boosting self-esteem and teaching social skills, few things beat team sports. Sports give kids the opportunity to get attention and respect, and to use the natural skills that come with youth, like speed and coordination.

According to one survey of 2,185 children conducted by The Women’s Sports Foundation and  Harris Interactive, kids who played sports or who participated in activities like frisbee, camping and hiking felt healthier and more confident about their bodies than those who did not. Other studies demonstrate that children active in sports perform better in school and are less likely to use drugs as young adults.

Continue Reading: Tips to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of Team Sports

Get Your Kids Into the Game

<b>Get Your Kids Into the Game</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – When it comes to improving academic performance, boosting self-esteem and teaching social skills, few things beat team sports. Sports give kids the opportunity to get attention and respect, and to use the natural skills that come with youth, like speed and coordination.

According to one survey of 2,185 children conducted by The Women’s Sports Foundation and Harris Interactive, kids who played sports or who participated in activities like frisbee, camping and hiking felt healthier and more confident about their bodies than those who did not. Other studies demonstrate that children active in sports perform better in school and are less likely to use drugs as young adults.

Of course, sports can have a downside. Overly competitive leagues, discouraging coaches and injuries from unsafe practices can quickly turn kids away from sports. So how can you make sure that your child has a positive experience? Here are some tips:

* Make sure that your child is mature enough to participate. In general, kids aren’t equipped for the rules and cooperation required in team sports until age six or seven. But each child develops differently. Don’t push children if they’re not ready.

* Make sure that the league or coach emphasizes fun. If you ask children why they want to play a sport, they’ll probably say that they want to have fun or make friends. No matter their sport of choice, make sure that your child’s enjoying him or herself.

* Don’t stress winning over everything else. Extreme competitiveness overrides any sportsmanship your child would otherwise learn. Focus on personal markers of success, not the league championship.

You can reward your child for playing a sport even if their league does not. PlaqueMaker Plus (www.plaquemakerplus.com) allows you to print your child’s photo in a sports-shaped frame. You can also order your own trophies and present them for a job well done, whether that means making the winning hit or simply putting in a good effort.

* Don’t force your child to specialize too soon. Few kids are going to get sports scholarships -; instead of trying to turn your child into a baseball or basketball star, let them try out a variety of sports. Some children are never going to enjoy sports. Instead of forcing kids into an activity that they don’t like, find another physical activity, such as track, cycling or hiking, that they can enjoy.

How Schools Can Keep Parents in the Know

You rush to get your children to their football game only to find out that it’s been canceled. Why weren’t you notified in advance?

When sports and recreation directors make last-minute schedule changes, such as canceling a game due to inclement weather or having to change practice times, they may have to inform several people at the same time. But with limited time to spread the word to players, parents, coaches and officials, some people may miss out.
Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. From elementary school to college, many schools and sports and recreation organizations are adopting an innovative new communication system called the Immediate Response Information System, or IRIS.

Continue Reading: How Schools Can Keep Parents in the Know

Kids Take Gum Disease to Heart

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/KidsHeartTeeth.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – Teaching your kids to care for their teeth will do more than ensure a healthy smile — it may also help them avoid health problems later in …/div/div

Even if you’re not, make sure your child’s immunizations are

<b>Even if you’re not, make sure your child’s immunizations are</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – One thing that never goes out of style is making sure your children are in good health. And the best platform for that is a timely and accurate immunization schedule.

Many childhood and adolescent diseases haven’t gone the way of leisure suits and are still present today. But you can help make them part of the past with regular visits to your child’s pediatrician to ensure that their immunization schedule is up-to-date.

Your kids will never understand how things were when you grew up. But they’ll always think it’s cool that you helped them grow up healthy. To find a pediatrician who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, visit www.aap.org.

Vision Screenings Protect The Apple of Your Eye

<b>Vision Screenings Protect The Apple of Your Eye</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – School-age children receive regular vision screenings, but childhood blindness can start long before elementary school. Early detection makes treatments more effective, so parents should have their children’s vision checked in preschool.

Ambylopia, or lazy eye, is one of the most common disorders detected in young children. Lazy eye, which occurs when one eye is significantly stronger than the other, affects two to three of every 100 children. If left untreated, the weaker eye tends to wander inward or outward, leading to permanent vision impairment.

Any factor that causes eyes to blur, cross or turn out can lead to lazy eye. The most common cause is strabismus, a muscle imbalance that prevents eyes from coordinating their movements. Congenital problems, like cataracts or oddly shaped eyes, can also lead to lazy eye.

Most of the time, conservative treatments like corrective eyewear, eye patches or eye drops can fix lazy eye. Droopy eyes, crossed eyes or eyes that are fixed outward might require surgical correction. Treatments typically start improving vision after a few weeks or months — if the problem is caught early in life.

Some programs aim to screen young children for vision problems. For example, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) established a preschool vision screening program in 1999. Trained volunteers screen children ages one through five. If they see a problem, the volunteers refer the child to an eye doctor.

So far, Lions volunteers have screened 1 million children in the United States and Taiwan. Volunteers refer about 6 percent of the children they see. Of those, approximately 65 percent have a vision disorder that can cause lazy eye.

Parents need to schedule eye screenings. Newborns should have their eyes examined at every wellness visit. Children with a family history of vision impairment, either childhood or adult, should see an eye specialist by 18 months. By age 3, all children should see an eye specialist on a regular basis.

For more information, visit www.lionsclubs.org.
« Older Entries