Bridge the Communication Gap with Toddlers

Don’t know what your baby wants? Can’t get through to an upset toddler? SIGN BEFORE THEY SPEAK!

Although sign language has been successfully used with deaf children for years, now it is being used with hearing children as well. You can start signing with your baby as soon as they are old enough to hold a rattle. The children of deaf parents often begin communicating with their parents through sign language as early as eight months. However many children of hearing parents do not say their first word until they are over 12 months old. This tells us that babies are able to communicate a lot sooner than their oral motor skills would allow.

Signing not only reduces frustration and tantrums, but it can even boost Intelligence Quotient (IQ). One study from the University of California found hearing children who had been exposed to sign language as babies scored an average of 12 points higher than the control group, when their IQs were tested at age eight. And for two-year-olds who signed, it found the average vocabulary was 50 words greater than in non-signing children.

So how does signing help a baby’s brain? It empowers your baby to communicate with you when she otherwise could not. This fosters a unique sense of self-confidence. Signing also helps lay down the foundations of good memory training and it encourages imitation like nursery rhymes do.

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE GIFTED

Gifted children do not always express their talents in obvious ways. But the consequences can be serious if their abilities are not recognized. Children whose extra abilities are not developed can become frustrated at school and alienated from friends whose interests are not at the same level. This can lead to children wanting to drop out.

Here are the signs that your child might be gifted:

UNUSUAL INTERESTS. Is your son or daughter studying medieval literature while friends are reading Harry Potter, or taking a regular interest, such as playing video games, to a higher level, such as exploring how to design your own versions?

TOUGH QUESTIONS. It is common for kids to ask questions, but keep an eye out if your child shows the ability to process information, form an opinion about it, and ask questions based on that opinion. For instance, does your child watch a movie, then speculate on what he might have done differently if he were the film’s main character?

SPECIAL SKILLS. Some children are gifted in certain areas but perform normally or poorly in others. Keep an eye out if your child becomes devoted to a certain activity and sustains that interest. If a child is academically gifted, the parents should try to enroll them in a gifted program or look for a special school, such as a science secondary school. If a gifted program is not available, parents can work with their children to help develop their gift.

EFFECTIVE STEPS TO BEAT THE BULLIES

CHILDREN

DON’T SHOW DISTRESS. It gives the bully an emotional pay-off. Bullies love to give degrading names to other children. Name-calling is very common. It is often used to test the bully’s power over the victim and see to how far he can go. Stopping it early on can prevent it from escalating into something more serious. By ignoring it, the bullies will lose their free entertainment, and soon they will stop.

DON’T BE A WITNESS. If you see bullying happening, walk away. It implies disapproval and weakens the bully’s position by removing an essential audience. The chances are he will soon lose interest. Meanwhile, report the incident to an adult.

PARENTS

BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE. A bullied child often feels somehow to blame for the situation. A healthy self-esteem allows them to behave in a positive but controlled manner. Many children don’t know how to stand up for themselves without fighting back.

STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIP. Encourage children to make new friends who can give moral support. Going for swimming or taekwondo classes not only gives kids a chance to make new friends but can also build up a child’s social skills and confidence.

SEEK EXPERT HELP. First make an appointment to see your child’s teacher. Bring a written report of the bullying incidents and set a mutually agreed time limit for action to take effect. Don’t telephone the bully’s parents or talk to the bully yourself – let the school do it. If the bullying does not stop, see the principal.

Preventive Skin Care for Infants – II

MAINTAIN A SUITABLE LEVEL OF HYDRATION

A number of factors including dry weather and excessively frequent cleansing can cause dehydration of the skin, while infrequent changing of the diaper may cause excessive hydration and the development of bacteria and fungi.
* Apply baby powder regularly to absorb excessive moisture.
* Change diaper frequently and clean soiled areas with mild cleansers.
* Apply moisturizers regularly to areas of dry skin.

REDUCE FRICTION

Friction between skin and clothes, diapers, or another skin surface is a common problem during the early stages of development.
* Separate the surfaces: in the case of clothing, soft, loose-fitting garments should be preferred over tight, coarse fabrics.
* Apply lubricants such as baby powder or oils between opposing surfaces to reduce friction.

MINIMIZE CHANGES IN BACTERIAL FLORA

Microbial colonization of the infant’s skin begins immediately after birth. The bacterial flora rarely cause infections unless the skin has an open wound or its natural acid mantle has been damaged.
* Take proper care of open wounds, e.g., the umbilicus or circumcision sites.
* Clean the infant’s skin thoroughly with a mild and pH-balanced baby bath.

AVOID EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO THE SUN

Because of the relative lack of melanin, infants are extremely susceptible to sunburn and thus to a number of problems related to the drying out of the skin.
* Limit the infant’s exposure to the sun, and avoid any exposure between 10 am and 2 pm.
* Dress infants in a wide-brimmed hats and loose protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
* Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 and titanium dioxide.

Preventive Skin Care for Infants I

AVOID CONTACT WITH IRRITATING AGENTS

The increased frequency of skin lesions caused by friction between clothing and the infant’s skin offers an easy passage for irritants.
* Avoid exposing the infant to common irritants such as harsh soaps and products containing alcohol.
* Prevent the development of skin lesions in vulnerable areas – especially around the diaper – by application of appropriate skin care products.

REDUCE CONTACT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IRRITANTS

Close contact with urine and feces in the diaper area is a frequent cause of primary irritation.
* Change diapers frequently and clean skin with gentle cleansing agent.
* Use infant skin care products to provide a barrier against direct contact with the irritants, and to reduce friction and prevent penetration of irritant substances.

AVOID EXPOSURE OF EYES TO IRRITANTS

As the newborn blinks less frequently and has a very low level of tear secretion, the eyes are extremely vulnerable to irritants.
* Keep infants away from areas of smoke or air pollution.
* Use infant cleansers and avoid any cleanser containing soap or alcohol.
* Wash hair in a mild shampoo.

PREVENT HIGH BODY TEMPERATURES

With a relatively high metabolic-rate, infants produce more body heat than adults. However, their ability to dissipate heat through sweating is severely restricted during the first two years of life.
* Avoid high temperatures.
* Avoid overdressing infants.
* Apply a soothing baby powder to help reduce body temperature.
* Avoid exposing infants to sudden changes in temperature that may cause cold or a chill.

PROTECT INFANT SKIN FROM UV DAMAGE

The Characteristics of Infant Skin

* Infant skin produces less melanin than adult skin and will burn more easily.

* Childhood is an especially vulnerable time for ultraviolet rays exposure. Children can get up to three times as much sun exposure in a year as adults.

* Most lifetime exposure to the sun occurs before the age of 18 years, and it is estimated that regular sunscreen use during childhood and adolescence would reduce the lifetime incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers by 78%.

* As much as 80% of UV-induced photoaging may occur in the first two decades of life. Therefore, preventive measures should begin as early as possible.

PHOTOPROTECTION FOR INFANT

* Minimize sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10am and 2pm.

* When children go out, be sure they are wearing wide-brimmed hats and loose, protective clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts and long pants.

* Apply liberal amounts of sunscreen lotion regularly when outdoors. Use sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15, which allows the child to remain in the sun approximately 15 times longer before burning than if no sunscreen were applied.

* Although solar radiation is much more significant in summer, it is still present (though less visible) on cloudy days and in winter. Therefore, to avoid damage to an infant’s skin, sunscreen lotion should be applied throughout the year under all weather conditions.

* Avoid chemical-based sunscreens on infants and young children, as chemicals may be absorbed through the skin.

Gentle Care for Baby’s Tender Skin

Baby’s skin is a source of admiration and wonder. At birth the baby’s skin is beautiful, soft and supple. In the womb and shortly after birth, it is protected by a whitish coating called vernix. Once the vernix is removed, the baby is exposed to elements that could cause discomfort.

Have you ever stopped to think about how the baby’s skin works? We tend to take the skin for granted, but as the body’s largest organ, it has many vital functions to fulfill. It protects the baby from the outside elements, keeps baby’s body at the correct temperature (by allowing perspiration for cooling and “goose-bumps” for warning), protects the sensitive organs inside baby’s body, and with its thousands of highly sensitive nerve endings, the skin puts a baby in touch with the outside world.

We all know how important “touch” is to humans. To babies, touch is even more vital and it is through the skin that baby experiences the tender loving care of parents. Immediately after birth, when babies are placed on their mother’s breast or in their father’s arms, the first bond of a life long relationship is formed.

So carefully select gently caring products for baby’s tender skin for a relationship go warmer, gentler, and closer.

Boost Your Baby’s Immune System

Your child is exposed to disease-causing germs every day. But it does not necessarily mean that your child will automatically get sick due to exposure to the elements and germs. Our bodies have this complex immune system that serves as a natural defense mechanism against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can cause infection and diseases.

However, the immune system of infants is not yet fully developed and may not have the full complement of immune responses. Breast milk remains the best source of nutrition for the optimal growth and development of infants especially during the first year of life. It naturally contains a lot of nutrients and immunological benefits that help infants to develop a strong immune system, protect them from infections and diseases, and boost their immune responses in the presence of an infection or disease.

Among the micro-nutrients, the following nutrients are scientifically recognized to have a significant and important influence on the immune responses:

1. nucleotides
2. the anti-oxidants
a. beta-carotene
b. vitamin A
c. vitamin C
d. vitamin E
7. minerals
a. Selenium
b. Zinc

Nucleotides help increase the production of lymphocytes, which are activated in response to the invasion of foreign substances in the body thus boosting the body’s defense. They also optimize the metabolic function of immune cells, with the effect of further increasing immune responses.

Anti-oxidants and minerals control the potentially harmful activities of highly reactive molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are linked to damage to cell membranes, enzymes and DNA. Anti-oxidants are also responsible for promoting production of immune cells, stimulating their responses and speeding up their reactions. All of which result in increased resistance against diseases and infections.

A diet sufficient with immunonutrients will protect infants by warding off diseases and infections. During episodes of infection, these immunonutrients can significantly improve immune responses resulting into faster recoveries.

Over all, immunonutrients may help to create, increase and sustain periods of unrestricted growth and development in infants. Therefore optimal nutrition, particularly one that provides an adequate supply of immunonutrients, is essential in developing, maintaining and boosting an infant’s immune system.

Breast milk contains the immunonutrients babies need. In the event that breastfeeding is not possible, a scientifically formulate milk supplement with Nucleotides and antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamins a, c and e, and the minerals selenium and zinc, is a good substitute.

Parents can ensure that their babies are given the best level of protection against illnesses, to enable them to grow into young champions by reaching their maximum growth and development potential early in life. Proper nutrition and immunonutrients play a vital role in the shield of protection.