Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in columbus, OH

Talking with Your Kids about Swine Flu

May 11, 2009

There have been a few cases of the swine flu reported in Columbus, and it's normal to worry that your child who requires prompting to wash his hands might come in contact with someone who has this virus. After all, kids spread viruses faster than anyone else in the population, right?

So how do you explain the swine flu and the importance of staying healthy to your preschooler? Here are some tips from Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C.

As the threat of H1N1 (swine flu) gains more public attention and media coverage, it's likely that children will hear something about it on television or at school. Here are some tips to help you minimize your child's fears while providing tips that can help him or her stay healthy.

Flu Worries and Your Child's Mental Health

Children are happiest when they can continue in the routines that make them feel comfortable and safe. Therefore, keeping your child inside and restricting social interactions with peers when flu rumors begin to circulate may be stressful for your child. By staying informed and teaching sensible precautions, you can keep life as normal as possible and help your child feel more secure.

What to Say

Find out what they know.
Ask your child to tell you what he or she already knows about the topic. Having your child tell you what she or he has heard, instead of you telling them about it, lets you know what misconceptions or misunderstandings you may need to address.

Explain the facts.

Your child may have a lot of questions about H1N1 (swine flu). Clearing up your child's confusion and providing the facts may make him or her less worried.

• Tailor the information to your child's developmental level, using words you know he or she will understand. (see simple definitions below)
• For example, you may wish to explain that H1N1 (swine flu) is a sickness that pigs can get and these germs that cause pigs to become ill can change over time to become a sickness that people can get and pass to each other. 
• Be sure to explain that doctors and the government are working to protect everyone, and will be ready to treat children and families if the flu continues to spread quickly. 

Talk about hygiene.

Having a discussion about flu provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce good hygiene practices, as they will not only help protect a child during a flu pandemic, but will also keep him or her healthier in general.

• Teach your child to wash hands frequently. The correct way to wash hands is to rub them vigorously together for 20 seconds using soap and water. Explain that hands pick up invisible little germs that can make people sick. The germs get inside when they touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Washing with soap and water gets rid of the germs before they can make them sick. Another option is to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Sanitizers with at least 70% isopropyl alcohol or 60% ethyl alcohol are effective. 
• Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. Explain that the germs are caught in the tissue and can't get out where they can make other people sick.  Make sure they know that they should throw away the tissue in a garbage and then wash their hands. Since many children do not carry tissues, you may want to remind them that if they have no tissue, it is ok to sneeze or cough into their elbow, so their hands don't get dirty and so the germs do not spread into the air.
• Teach your children to be careful not to get too close to others if he or she feels sick, or if the other person feels sick.
• Teach your child to practice good general health habits that help them stay healthy, like eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough rest.

 Flu Vaccine

If you take your child to get a yearly flu vaccine, he or she may wonder why everyone can't simply be vaccinated to keep from getting swine flu.

• If your child asks, explain that scientists have just started to work on developing a vaccine, but it can take several months to create it and make sure it works against this flu.

Containing the Flu

It is important that you help your child understand the directions being given by the schools, health authorities, and government to help prevent further spread of the flu and why they are important. Understanding that everyone, including children, can play a role in helping to prevent further spread of the flu can assist your child in feeling like he or she is contributing and helping the community.

If your child is not feeling well and seems to have symptoms of the flu, call your pediatrician. Follow your pediatrician's recommendations, including guidance about when to stay home from school.

Make a Plan

If a pandemic flu does emerge, anticipate that your child's routines may be interrupted. You may even find that authorities advise you to stay in your home to prevent the spread of the illness. Think about what you will need in the event that this occurs and make a plan for your family so that you are prepared. Stock up on food, water, and medications. Also have games, activities, and ways to communicate with friends (like over email) ready for your children to make the time spent confined at home less stressful. Providing developmentally appropriate art, play, and other expressive activities can assist your child to express how they feel and improve your communication with them while also providing entertainment or distraction while home.

Stay informed of recent developments. 

• Check http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/ frequently for updates. 
•  Use national and local pandemic hotlines that will be established if there is a global influenza outbreak.
• Listen to radio and television, and read media stories about the pandemic and follow the instructions of your local health authorities.

 Common flu terms defined

 Pandemic

• A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. The disease spreads easily from person to person  and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time.

Pandemic flu

• Human flu that causes a global outbreak of serious illness. This is different from the common flu because there is little natural immunity to this strain of the flu. This disease can spread easily from person to person.

Seasonal (or common) flu

• A respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.

H1N1 Influenza (swine flu)

• A respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. There is no human immunity and currently no vaccine is available, although scientists are working to develop one.

Additional resources on children, stress, and traumatic events are available from the ICHOC at www.childrensnational.org/ichoc under the Resource Section.

To find additional information about the swine flu and precautions, please see Facts about the Swine Flu.

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Building Good Organization Habits in Children

April 06, 2009

Kids and clutter.  The two are almost synonymous.  From the time they are born, parents clean up after their children. But at some point -- usually after you've found yourself stepping on and picking up a bazillion stray Lego blocks for the fifth day in a row -- enough is enough.  They've got toys from home, art projects from preschool, and soon enough there will be tests and homework papers to join the mess. We want to reclaim our home!  More importantly, we want to teach our children to organize their belongings themselves instead of doing it for them.  But how do we go about doing it?

Last week I participated in a very informative webcast about organizing workspaces featuring Peter Walsh and OfficeMax.  Peter is a professional organizer, resident organization expert on TLC's hit series Clean Sweep, and the creator of the InPlace, a line of workspace organization products debuting this week at OfficeMax.

Peter is well aware of the organizational challenges that come with having children; Clean Sweep has featured several amazing room makeovers for playrooms and children's bedrooms (quote: "If you know anything about me, you know I go completely nuts about the whole kid thing").  In fact, right at the beginning of the webcast he mentioned that the 3 biggest things he is constantly asked about are kids' toys, clothing and paperwork.  So when asked about workspace organization for children, he was more than happy to share his tips on instilling good organizational habits in children.

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Keeping Your Family Healthy

March 02, 2009

In our fast paced society, often convenience trumps what's actually best for us. I know I'm guilty of running through a fast-food drive thru far too often when I'm feeling rushed. But when you're this busy, what can you do to keep your family healthy?

Today's guest posters, Bonnie Johnson and Deanna Segrave-Daly, serve up five great ways parents can maintain a healthy lifestyle even in the midst of all the childhood chaos.  As registered dieticians, they know the ins and outs of good nutrition.  Even more important, they are moms who understand that our busy, crazy schedules means we need quick, manageable solutions -- and all the help we can get.

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The Battle against Weight Bias: Interview with Emme

February 23, 2009

Several of our City Editors recently had the great pleasure of participating in an interview with Emme, the supermodel and nationally recognized body image and self esteem advocate. Emme has twice been selected as People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful Women.

Emme is working with Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity to educate our country about weight bias, weight discrimination and wants to share with you helpful ways to teach your children about the harmful effects of weightbias and how to support a child in your life who is the victim of such a horrible experience.

I am bringing you this interview as the week of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week begins. Please take a moment after reading this post to visit the site!
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Guest Post: Julie Irwin Zimmerman Talks Infertility

February 09, 2009

I want to welcome Julie Irwin Zimmerman as our Guest Blogger today! Julie is a journalist and regular contributor to Cincinnati Magazine. She has also worked as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Today, she has graciously prepared this post to introduce you to her book, "A Spiritual Companion to Infertility". Now, if you yourself have (thankfully) not suffered with infertility, I'm sure you're like me and you know someone who has.  Below, Julie offers her thoughts about the the Octuplets' mom and her struggles with infertility. 

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An Interview With Cheryl Tiegs

by Christina Mack

January 26, 2009

Some of our fellow Savvy Source City Editors recently had the opportunity to interview Cheryl Tiegs! Cheryl is the spokesperson for Cambria , a Minnesota based company producing "green" products, such as countertops. Cheryl also is one of the judges on the ABC produced show, True Beauty . Listen in on their conversation: SS: How and when did you first become interested in environmental  Read more...

Making Potty Training Easier

by Christina Mack

January 23, 2009

Today we are going to discuss Potty Training. That job we get as parents to get out of the diapers and into the bathroom. I don't know about you, but it is one of my least favorite responsibilities as a parent. Not that changing diapers or pullups is fun, but potty training just seems so ... I don't know ... time consuming? Here to help are Sean and Cindy Platt , the authors of Potty  Read more...

Parenting Resolutions for 2009

by Christina Mack

December 31, 2008

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? This yearly ritual has many people vowing to change themselves in dramatic ways over the next year, but probably less than half of them stick to all of the promises they make. I can't count the number of times I've vowed to get in shape or eat better each year, and while I've had some success with those goals, I still seem to be making those resolutions  Read more...

Plan a "Just Because" Day Out

by Christina Mack

September 29, 2008

My preschooler didn't have school today because of a teacher training day, so we had to plan our own entertainment for the day. My husband was busy working on freelance writing and needed some quiet so he could focus, and my toddler was napping, so on the spur of the moment I put on Cordy's shoes and took her out to lunch, followed by a quick shopping trip afterward to spend some of her  Read more...

Finding Help When You Worry Something's Wrong

by Christina Mack

August 28, 2008

It was just over a year ago that I began searching for help for my daughter, Cordy. I realized that she was not the same as many kids her age, and started to worry that she had some kind of developmental problem. I also didn't know where to start in searching for that help. However, it only took me a little searching and a few phone calls to find all of the help I needed, and I'd like to share  Read more...

Keep Your Preschooler's Skin Safe From The Sun

by Christina Mack

August 13, 2008

As I said in yesterday's post, I spent my childhood summers outdoors at the pool each day. My mom always nagged me to put sunscreen on, but I often didn't. I never thought a sunburn or two (or more than a hundred, in my case) could have any long-term effect on my health. Now that I'm all grown-up, I've had to endure painful visits to the dermatologist where they cut off suspicious looking  Read more...