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!

College bound student

It's a proud day when you watch your child leave for college. As a parent you have been working toward this moment since your child was born. This transition from child to young adult can be exhausting and emotionally draining for the parent. You have done all the preparatory work with finances, dormitory room preparation and now you are ready to give your college-bound freshman a positive send-off.

Launching your student

Emotionally parents must be prepared to let go of their young adult and develop a new role of support. College is a huge economic investment for parents and student alike so discussing expectations should be done early in the preparation stage. Your college bound student should be able to balance their checkbook, know how to make their own doctor appointments and fill prescriptions as needed.

If your student calls in a panic, coach them through the choices that are available. This is an important learning situation for them to build confidence in themselves. Your student will be faced with many new dilemmas from roommates to college professors. Try not to become too involved with these concerns. Trust your student to resolve the concern to the best of their abilities. Let your student know you are proud of them and will be supportive in this time of transition. Send them e-mails and text messages to let them know you are thinking of them.

The days will pass quickly and your student will be home to visit on the holidays. You will see them grow to the adult you have always envisioned. It will be a memory to celebrate together.