Prepare your child for team sports

Team sports are a classic way to get children active socially and physically with their peers. Not all children are ready or willing to engage in a team sport and would rather choose a solitary activity. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that the pediatric neurological maturation process is very complex. The sense of social comparison is not achieved until after 6 years of age and the ability to understand the competitive nature of sports is usually not achieved until 9 years of age. By 12 years of age most children are mature enough to comprehend the complex tasks of sports and are physically and cognitively ready to participate in competitive sports with appropriate supervision.

Developmental guidelines

As the school year progresses there are several team activities that are available to your children. Here are a few suggestions to consider when deciding if your children are ready to engage in a team sport.

• Does he/she display an interest in organized sport?
• Is her/his emotional maturity similar to that of their peers?
• How well does your child accept defeat?
• How well does your child take directions from other adults?
• Is your child large enough and coordinated enough to minimize injury?

For children under the age of 6 years of age a team activity where no score is kept and everyone is a winner is a great way to learn skills. As children grow and mature they will become ready for the more competitive edge that is required. Up until the age of 11 years of age children are still learning how to build friendships, just as they are learning about teamwork.

Try to guide your child toward their interests and strengths. Make sure it is their desire to play a team sport and not an extension of a parent's ego. Sports can be another wonderful learning experience for participants and players alike.

Suicide rate for girls has increased

Federal health officials report in a 2006 study that the suicide rate among preteen and teenage girls rose to its highest level in a decade. This statistic affects girls from ages 10 - 14 years of age. The preferred method of suicide was hanging or suffocation (71%) which surpassed guns. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death. Every 15 minutes someone tries to take their own life and there are over 800,000 attempts a year.

Warning signs

This is a wake-up call for parents to become more aware of their children's emotional needs and the pressures that they face daily. Dr. Keri Lubell who led the study states, "Parents and other caring adults should look for changes in youth such as talking about taking one's life, feeling sad or hopeless about the future. Also look for changes in eating or sleeping habits, and even losing the desire to take part in favorite activities."

Interventions

The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention is advising that health officials consider focusing on suicide prevention programs for girls 10 - 19 and boys between 15 -19 years of age to reverse these startling statistics. They also suggest that parents monitor or restrict children's access to pills, weapons, or other lethal means of self-harm.

Another important intervention would be to stay emotionally connected to your child by being involved in their school activities, friends, and academics. You can also plan family time together or special outings together to keep your relationships strong. Families that center their life on their faith and church have a strong foundation of love that also helps them endure the trials of life. If you see that your child is struggling and drifting from your family system, you may want to seek professional help as an intervention. Counseling could help your child cope with their anxiety and depression which can bring hope to the whole family.

Family meals nourish relationships

When both parents work outside of the home cooking the evening meal becomes another task to fit into an already busy schedule. Many families are eating on the run or in route to the evening activities for their children. Traditional family meals together are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. This family ritual has been an important bonding time for the family over several generations. It not only teaches your children the proper social etiquette when dining but also encourages healthy eating habits. Studies are also reporting that the children who eat a family meal together are not only engaging in a healthier lifestyle but their grades are better and they also display higher self-esteem.

Creative time management

If planning meals is a time consuming task for your family you may want to try Super Suppers or Make & Take Meals for an option. They both offer different menus each month. You call ahead to schedule your appointment to go in and make your meals. You can usually prepare 12 meals in a couple of hours. Take a helper with you and make it an activity to do with your children or significant other. It can help you save time, stay in your budget and eat nutritious meals. It sounds like a win/win for everyone.

Emotional eaters

There are many people today who use food to comfort or sooth themselves. They are emotional eaters or stress-induced eaters. If you are searching the cupboards when you are anxious, depressed, stressed or bored that is a sign that you are using food for comfort and not nutrition. Although food can provide comfort for a brief time, it usually leads to overeating and weight gain. Certain foods, especially carbohydrates that are high in sugar and fat increase our neurotransmitters or "feel good" chemicals in our brain like serotonin or dopamine. After eating those food types you will feel a slight lift in your mood or energy level that is comforting. The problem is this process can lead to weight gain.

Self-discipline

This pattern can happen to anyone. People who can usually control their food intake will lose their self-discipline when faced with stressors that seem beyond their control. Instead of stuffing your feelings with food, you can look for healthier ways to release your emotions. Write down what you eat, when you eat, and how you feel when you are binging can help you monitor this behavior. You could also take your pet for a walk, ride your bike, listen to music or work on your hobby. If you are unhappy with yourself, then connection between emotions and eating is the first step for any weight loss you desire. "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy. Start today to make the changes you would like to see in yourself.

Back to school separation anxiety

If you are the parent of a shy or anxious child, starting the school year can be a difficult time for both of you. The child can be excited about the concept of school but at the same time display fear leaving the safety of their home. The parent is aware of this fear and can become anxious to create a smooth transition from home to school for their child.

It will be important for the parent or caregiver to not display their anxiety about the concern or become over protective when in social situations. Knowing your child's triggers and preparing them for the experience is a good step to take in helping them learn how to cope with the separation. It is important that the parent support the child but not enable them to continue their pattern of distress.

Baby steps

Start with small gatherings that are structured so that your child can build on their successes. You could attend a story hour at the library, church function or trade childcare with a friend while you run errands. These short absences will build trust with your child and assure them that you will return. It will also help them to build confidence by developing social skills with their peers.

When you enroll your child into school you can show them where their classroom will be so that they can visualize going to school each day. Focus on the positive aspects of returning to school and that you will be there at the end of the day to hear about the fun that they had while learning.

Most children will out grow these concerns as they establish a strong sense of self and confidence in their abilities. Their family will always be an important place of safety through their growth and development to learn the skills for a happy childhood. Separation anxiety affects 4 percent of children 6 to 12 years old. If you don't see progress after attempting these suggestions you will want to seek the advice of your pediatrician for a professional referral.

Backpacks that make the grade

With the academic season under way we will see many children carrying heavy backpacks to and from school. For some children it is mainly books, for others it is band instruments and sports equipment. These items can weigh a lot, and the majority of the weight is supported by your children's back. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children carry no more than 10 percent of their weight in a backpack.

Helpful suggestions

Studies report that children carry too much weight on their back. Backpacks have been found to trigger nearly half of the back pain that had been reported and most children only carry their backpacks for 10 to 15 minutes daily.

You can protect your child's back by:

• Choose a backpack that has two wide padded straps that go over the shoulder. Make sure your children put both arms through the straps, not just one. You may also want to consider buying your child the wheeled backpack as an alternative.
• Monitor what your children carry. The total weight should not be more than 10 percent of a child's body weight.
• Teach your children to pack the heaviest books closest to their backs.
• Coach your children to go to their lockers as often as possible to minimize the time that they are carrying their books.

Teaching your children these health tips to lighten their load will benefit their back as an adult. You might want to check the weight of your purse or briefcase that you carry each day. Females that carry a purse along with a backpack had significantly more back pain than females who didn't. If your children or adolescent complain of back pain you may want to consult a chiropractor to prevent any problems that may occur during their growth and development.

Set your body clock for school

As temperatures soar to 100 degrees and summer is gearing up it's time to prepare for back-to-school. Your children are probably excited about whom their teacher will be this year, seeing their friends again and buying their new school supplies. The one thing they won't want to think about is going to bed earlier.

With the advanced technology competing for your child's waking hours, it is not surprising to hear that most children are sleep deprived. A recent Kids Health Kids Poll estimated that 62 percent of children ages 9 to 13 do not get enough sleep and 70 percent were wishing they could get more sleep. Experts recommend that school-age children receive 9 to 10 hours of sleep each night.

Bedtime routine

Establish a consistent bedtime routine is the best intervention in helping your child prepare for the next day. Here are a few suggestions to try:

• Set a bedtime for school nights, and stick with it.
• Make sure that all homework and other preparations for the next day are completed early enough in the evening, so that your child gets to bed on time.
• Have your child complete their nightly hygiene routine at least 30 minutes before their bedtime.
• After your child has completed their evening tasks, allow them some quiet reading time to slow down, and relax before bed.
• Spend some time with your child discussing their day and activities. Ask your child about any projects or concerns that they may have and need assistance with.
• Say good night to your child and state your expectations about staying in bed in a kind but firm voice.

Good self-care

Ensuring that your child is rested for the day is also important in helping their immune system fight infection effectively. Children that are sleep deprived are likely to be ill more often, have a negative outlook on life, and display poor social skills when interacting with others. Helping your child get enough sleep is just one more step in teaching your child self-care skills for life. Let's start the school year right and set your body clock tonight!