Winter Sports and Activities Safety Tips

Last week we talked about winter activities to do with the kids and safety with kids in the cold weather.  Today we are going to talk about safety tips for outdoor activities to keep your whole family safe.

Ice Skating

• Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces.  Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.

• Advise your child to:

• Skate in the same direction as the crowd

• Avoid darting across the ice

• Never skate alone

• Not chew gum or eat candy while skating.

• Consider having your child wear a helmet while ice skating.

Sledding

• Keep sledders away from motor vehicles.

• Children should be supervised while sledding.

• Keep young children separated from older children.

• Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries.

• Consider having your child wear a helmet while sledding.

• Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.

• Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.

• Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than 30º), and end with a flat runoff.

• Avoid sledding in crowded areas.

Snow Skiing and Snowboarding

• Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a qualified instructor in a program designed for children.

• Never ski or snowboard alone.

• Young children should always be supervised by an adult.  Older children’s need for adult supervision depends on their maturity and skill.  If older children are not with an adult, they should always at least be accompanied by a friend.

• All skiers and snowboarders should wear helmets. Ski facilities should require helmet use, but if they do not, parents should enforce the requirement for their children.

• Equipment should fit the child. Skiers should wear safety bindings that are adjusted at least every year. Snowboarders should wear gloves with built-in wrist guards. Eye protection or goggles should also be used.

• Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the skier or snowboarder. Avoid crowded slopes.

• Avoid skiing in areas with trees and other obstacles.

Snowmobiling

• The AAP recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.

• Do not use a snowmobile to pull a sled or skiers.

• Wear goggles and a safety helmet approved for use on motorized vehicles like motorcycles.

• Travel at safe speeds.

• Never snowmobile alone or at night.

• Stay on marked trails, away from roads, water, railroads and pedestrians.

Sun Protection

• The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow.  Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.

Source : http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Winter-Safety-Tips.aspx

Winter Safety Tips

Winter is a time of snow, sleet, slippery sidewalks and cold temperatures. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm.
 
What to Wear

• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Don’t forget warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat. 

• The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions. 

• Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers or wearable blankets is preferred. 

• If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding materials. 

Frostbite

• Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that his/her skin burns or has become numb. 

• If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water. 104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips. 

• Do not rub the frozen areas. 

• After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets. Give him/her something warm to drink. 

• If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor. 

Winter Health

• If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops or petrolatum may help keep nasal tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician. 

• Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant’s first year. More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter. 

• Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu. 

• Children 6 months of age and up should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu.

Keep your children safe, warm and happy this winter!

Keeping The Family Active During the Winter

Winter in here now and you may want to keep your family active with some cold weather sports. Winter can be a great time to get outside, burn off some energy, and find a new activity for the whole family. Below are a few cold weather sports that you may want to consider.

Downhill Skiing: This can be a fun easy sport for kids. Just make sure you take a lesson or two so you know how to be safe. Lessons can help your child to learn different techniques and the instructor can tell them what slopes would be best for their ability. Also make sure you where the appropriate safety gear, like a helmet.

Cross-country skiing: This can be a great cardiovascular workout and a fun way to enjoy the outdoors. It’s slower than downhill skiing so you can take time to relax and enjoy the trip. It’s still important to wear your safety gear and take a lesson or two before you try it.


Snowboarding: This is a winter sport that kids really enjoy. It’s a lot harder to control a snowboard, so expect plenty of falls before you get the hang of it. I would definitely recommend a lesson, or two, or four and safety gear is essential.

Snowshoeing: Snowshoes allow you to walk on top of the deep snow. This is really a workout. It’s not a fast way to travel so the kids might get a little bored after only a short trip. You might want to try it, just to say you did it.

Ice skating: If you are in a medium sized town, their is probably a ice rink or two close by. Open skate is when rinks allow anyone off the street to come in, rent skates and get on the ice. Many rinks now offer devices to assist new skaters. They kind of look like miniature walkers. You could also have the family take a lesson. The ice is hard so helmets and other safety gear should be worn.

 It is easy for the family to sit in the house and watch TV all winter. Instead, why don’t you try one of the winter sports listed above and get the family active.

Starting at a New School

Moving your child to a new school can be a traumatic process for both parent and child. Here are a few tips for a smoother transition whether you’re starting fresh or moving to a new provider.

Talk to Your Child
Introduce the idea of of a new school weeks or even a month ahead of time. Talk to child about how they will learn and meet new friends in school. Also, discuss the activities they will participate in and crafts that they can bring home and show you they made. This will help allow your child to get comfortable with the idea of the school.

You might also want to try explaining their schedule on the first day. Starting with how they will be dropped off and how (mommy, daddy, caregiver) will drop them off in the morning, followed by playtime, circle time, lunch and other elements of their day. Also explain how (mommy, daddy, and caregiver) will return to pick them up at the end of the day. If a child can visualize their day, it may help to alleviate the fear of the unknown.

Start Gradually

Like any other change that your child will experience starting gradually is a good idea. Begin the process with a few visits to your new provider. Introduce your child to the staff and let them get acquainted with their new surroundings. Since your child will now recognize their new school facility and staff this may help to make the first day easier.

Begin to prepare your child at least a week before you start leaving her in childcare. See if you can take her for short visits a few times before she starts her schedule. Talk to your child about the activities she will be doing, and where in the schedule, for example after nap or lunch, you will pick her up. Allow extra time for dropping your child off for the first few weeks in case she has trouble saying good-bye. Even if your child is upset, it is important that she knows you are leaving instead of you slipping out while she is distracted. Develop and practice a routine for getting ready to go so neither you nor your child are anxious and stressed in the morning.

The Goddard  School understands the importance of your child’s first learning experience. Stop in and see the difference Goddard can make.

Too Sick For School

Parents struggle sometimes to decide when it’s best to keep the kids home from school. Sometimes a child's symptoms make the decision a no-brainer. Other times, not so much. To help take the confusion out of your decision, here are a few examples of when to keep your child home.

•  Colds - colds are part of winter and the decision to keep your child home is not as clear. But, the symptoms are accompanied by a fever or wheezing, it’s best to keep them home and call the pediatrician. 

•  Fever - as a rule of thumb, children should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. 

• Diarrhea or Vomiting - 24 hours is also the rule of thumb for a child to return to school after an episode of vomiting or diarrhea. 

•  Sore Throat - generally, if a child has a sore throat combined with fever, headache or abdominal pain, they should be kept home and see a doctor. 

•  Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) - if your child’s eye is stuck shut, bright red, and/or oozing yellow or green discharge, these are my symptoms of pinkeye (conjunctivitis) they should be kept home and see a doctor before returning to school. 

 Why 24 Hours? 
 Waiting 24 hours before sending your child back to school reduces the risk of a virus spreading and allows parent’s to make sure your child isn’t dehydrated. Remember these are just guidelines and you know your child best. It’s always best to error on the side of caution and consult your Pediatrician regarding any of the common illnesses above if you have any questions, or concerns about your child’s symptoms, treatments or care.

Winter Photos

If you haven’t noticed, we are lacking some snow this winter and while it makes adults happy, kids do miss it.  Here is the perfect wintry, snowy craft that will encourage your child’s creativity without the need for cold or a shovel.

Transform an old photograph into a lovely winter scene, with a few strokes of the paint brush.  Children can make their scene a tranquil snowy morning or a blizzard at night.  The choice is up to them.

What You Will Need:

• Old photo that you don’t want anymore
• White tempera paint
• Thin paint brush
• Newspaper to protect your work surface

Steps:

1. Cover your work area with newspaper
2. Have your child paint snow on the photograph using the paint brush and white  paint. There are lots of different ways they can paint snow. They can add lots of small dots so it looks like it's snowing, or create large splotches piled up high to make snowdrifts.
3. Set aside the photo to dry.

Should You Worry About Bedwetting

Bedwetting, or Enuresis, is a common problem. The definition of bedwetting is the involuntary passage of urine during sleep. The frequency of wetting that is necessary to be considered a problem varies. The American Psychiatric Association defines enuresis as wetting two or more times per week for at least three consecutive months in children over the age of five.

Nocturnal enuresis affects approximately 5 million children in the United States. In most cases, bedwetting runs in families and often the child will become dry without intervention around the same age that the parent became dry as a child.

The following timetable shows the normal development of bladder control:

• Ages birth-18 months: The child is unaware of bladder filling or emptying.
• Ages 18-24 months: The child has a conscious sensation of bladder emptying.
• Ages 2-3: Most children develop the ability to voluntarily stop urination and develop appropriate toileting skills.
• Ages 3-5:  Most children have achieved urinary control and are dry both day and night.

What can you do to help your child stay dry at night?
Be supportive. Remember your child is not wetting the bed on purpose.  They are embarrassed by the situation and discussing can help put them at ease.Remind children that bedwetting is no one’s fault. Let them know that their are many children that have the same problem.

Make a few changes  

• Try to eliminate drinks a few hours before bedtime
• Make sure they us the potty right before getting into bed for the night
• Wake your child during the night and walk them the bathroom

Visit the Doctor 
Make an appointment with your Pediatrician. They can help you decide on plan and if any treatment is needed. 

In most cases, children grow out of bedwetting over time. 

Source: NAFC www.narc.org

Family Medicine Cabinet

If being prepared is one of your goals for the New Year, than you should review what’s in you’re medicine cabinet. Now that winter is here you may have to treat a middle-of-the-night fever or upset tummy. In order to save you from the midnight run to a local pharmacy, here are a few items that are essential for the medicine cabinet.

 • Thermometer
 • Liquid ibuprofen and acetaminophen for pain and fever.
 • A hot water bottle/heat pack and an ice pack/cold pack help soothe tummy aches,reduce swelling, and
   cool feverish children.
 •  Cool mist vaporizer for cough and congestion.
 • Hydrocortisone 1% and calamine lotion for rashes and itching.
 • Antiseptics and antibiotic ointments help stop infection in cuts and scrapes.
 • Adhesive bandages for scrapes and cuts.
 • Tweezers for splinters and ticks and alcohol to clean the tweezers.

 Please remember this is just a guideline and you should discuss the appropriate items and dosage with you pediatrician, who knows your child’s healthy history and can advise you on dosage.

New Year's Resolutions for Kids

Here are some great New Year’s resolution ideas for kids:

Young Children

• I pledge to clean up my room once a week.
• I will be kind to animals.
• I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before I eat.

Older Kids

• I will eat healthier (reduce sodas and junk food).
• I will try to stay active by exercising or playing a sport.
• I will wear appropriate safety equipment when playing sports or activities.
• I will always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car.
• When driving a car I will never text.
• I will use social media responsibly.
• I will not tease or bully others.
• I will volunteer in the community to help others.
• I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.

You can find other New Year’s resolutions by searching on the web. Use New Year’s resolutions as an opportunity to reinforce good habits, healthy living and safety with your children.