The Emotional Effects of Cartoons on Children

Many people are aware of the effect of violence on media on little children, but do you know that any kind of media has emotional repercussions as well? Children are very impressionable, and what they see in their environment tends to form a big part of what they eventually believe about themselves and about others. This is why, as parents, it is crucial that you monitor and guide your children in the kind of media they watch, while providing them a healthy and loving environment to foster their growth.

One of the unexpected ways that media affect children can be in the form of the cartoons they watch everyday. This is crucial, because as parents, we sometimes just let our kids spend hours in front of the TV as we go about our daily chores. But how do you suppose a little grows up who constantly sees pretty princesses with tiny bodies and praised for their looks? Like it or not, they can sometimes develop the mindset that their looks are all they are about. This is the early trigger of self-esteem problems that may result in eating disorders in the long run.

Still, this is not all bad, because what the media industry simply did was prey on the inherent need of every little girl to feel beautiful. However, the problem lies with how they eventually go about to achieving the affirmation for that need. Since it is literally impossible to shield your child from watching princess cartoons, what is recommended instead is to augment the things they see with what the family upholds. This can be done when you spend ample time developing trust with your children. As they learn to respect you, you can show them that true beauty does not lie on the externals but it is what is inside of them that counts. You can show them by your words and actions that they are special for who they are, not for how they look.

As for little boys, when they keep watching cartoons that compliment the strongest hero or the one that uses the most force, they may develop a mindset that being strong is all that matters, and using force can get them what they want. Eventually they may try to resort to using force whenever they do not get what they want, and it may result to other kids being hurt in the process. Or, if your child finds that he does not have the strength embodied in the cartoons, he may hide away behind a shy façade and have problems interacting with other children his age.

As with little girls, the desire to know that they have what it takes is also inherent in little boys. This is why it is crucial for parents to learn to give them this affirmation and not limiting it to when the boy performs exceptionally well. Children need to know their parents accept them just as they are, because it is unconditional love that will transform them into the adults that they have the potential to be.

In terms of love, cartoons also sometimes portray a stilted picture of love, with all the fairy-tale, dragon-slaying angles of cartoon love stories. As such they may grow up believing that love is all sunshine and roses, so when they encounter their first heartbreak, they may have trouble coping with it.

As a parent, your role is, of course, not to burst the bubble too early on, because a child still deserves to believe at some point that the world is good. But perhaps a better way would be to show them what love is like, as you show them your love even when they are being unlovable, sticking with them through thick and thin, and other intangible but visible ways.

These are just basic examples of the emotional repercussions that cartoons may have on children. But do not despair. As their parent, you still have the greatest influence on their emotional development, if you can only find the time to be involved in their lives just as you were designed to be. It was certainly no accident that you became the parent matched up with them, as you are called to give them a glimpse of a greater love that no cartoon can offer.

Child Vaccination: Is there a Link to Autism?

The development of vaccines has spelled tremendous difference in the health of nations. Historically, many outbreaks could not be contained due to the lack of preventative measures. As is often quoted in medical circles, prevention is better than cure. This holds the basic premise why children are normally vaccinated against common diseases, a lot of which can be deadly and were in fact fatal for many generations prior to the discovery of their cures and inoculations.

Along with this advancement in medical science, these last few years have also ushered in a greater consciousness among parents about the chronic development disorder called autism. Although a direct cause of the disorder has not yet been identified, many research has allowed the earlier detection of the condition based on certain behavioral cues in toddlers, or even babies younger than that age.

Autism is typically first identified between the ages of 18 to 30 months. This might have been the initial reason why some studies looked into the possibility of some vaccines administered prior to that age as increasing the risk of autism in children. For example, some studies have pinpointed certain vaccines given before the age of one year as upping the risk of autism occurrence in male children. But is there in fact scientific evidence for this claim?

These concerns typically centered on vaccines containing mercury or thimerosal. Interestingly, though, extensive reports coming from national health institutes in the United States have found that there is no proven link to these vaccines and autism. In fact, many health agencies believe the risks, if any, would be negligible and the benefits of vaccination will far outweigh any of these perceived risks.

The timing of identifying autism at about the same age range as when children typically receive vaccinations is a major reason why there was a mistaken assumption of cause and effect. But recent studies have shown increasing evidence that autism may be determined even while the baby is still in the womb during pregnancy. This at least assures mothers that they do not have to worry about vaccinations “causing” autism. If ever you do have concerns or doubts about the vaccines, it would be best to discuss your concerns with your pediatrician.

In any case, the usual vaccinations recommended for children from birth to 12 months include those against tuberculosis, whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, German measles, poliomyelitis, and Hepatitis B. If you are concerned about the number of shots that your fragile newborn will be getting, there are actually numerous combination vaccines made available today, significantly reducing the number of injections needed.

Also, doctors typically only postpone vaccination for certain medical reasons, such as when a child is sick and has a high temperature of over 38.5 degrees Centigrade. A runny nose is not usually reason to postpone a vaccination as long as the child is otherwise healthy, or is taking antibiotics and is recovering. Experts typically prefer not to postpone vaccinations as it will put the child at greater risk for the sickness for which vaccination was held off. Of course, there are certain cases when doctors would not be able to give vaccination to children. This is typically limited to children with immune deficiency disorders, or those who are on certain medication, when the doctor determines that the vaccination may interfere with their ability to fight infection.

This is why the issue between a possible link between vaccination and autism has to be settled once and for all, as a child who misses a vaccination because his mother does not want him to have a higher risk for autism will be at risk for that particular disease supposedly combated by the vaccine.

As stated earlier, if you are still uncertain and would like your doubts put to rest, do not be afraid to ask your pediatrician. Remember, he should, and usually does, have your child’s best interest at heart, and you can partner with him in discussing your child’s condition. Also, if you have qualms about some issues in your child’s development, be sure to discuss them with your doctor, as he can help you identify possible problem areas at an early stage.

Watching Your Child’s Teeth

Some mothers think that it is only important to take care of their children’s teeth when they become preschoolers and are eating lots of sweet stuff in school. But experts actually tell us that nearly all children have the entire set of 20 primary or baby teeth by the time they reach three years old. As such it is actually imperative that you pay close attention to your toddler’s teeth.

The common argument that causes moms to overlook this first set of teeth is that they will fall off and be replaced anyway. But dental experts report that these milk teeth hold the spaces that the permanent teeth eventually grow out of. For example, if a child loses a baby tooth at a very young age, nearby baby teeth have the tendency to tip or move into the empty space, which causes a crooked “mold” for the new teeth to move into. Also, these first teeth are responsible for properly aligning the child’s jawbones and the resulting bite.

A usual advice given to moms of babies is to watch prolonged thumb-sucking and reliance on a pacifier. This is because these two habits, when done past the age of three, have the tendency to cause improper teeth alignment by pushing teeth outward. It can sometimes even cause a malformation of the upper palate of the mouth.

While we’re on the subject of babies’ sucking habits, note also that dentists advise moms whose babies bottle-feed to invest in orthodontic teats. Studies show that there is a difference in the baby’s teeth formation. Babies who suckle on normal, round teats have a greater tendency to develop bottom-row teeth that are crooked, while orthodontic teats have been shown to help align top and bottom teeth.

In terms of cleaning your baby’s teeth, even babies below one year old need to have their mouth area cleaned diligently. Even if only a few teeth have appeared, you can start by cleaning your baby’s gums with gauze to get rid of plaque as soon as the first teeth come out. This usually happens when your baby is between four to six months, with the first two usually coming out on the bottom gums followed by the top two incisors a few months afterward.

When your child reaches two years old, he most likely has nearly all of his baby teeth. As such it would be best to start getting him to brush by one year old, or if you are delayed, get with it as soon as possible. A toothbrush now becomes necessary as it can help to clean the molars and the crevices between his teeth. Also remember to wipe the tongue gently, since it is also a good holding place for bacteria. For a toddler, let him hold the brush as you guide him in brushing. Dentists recommend brushing the front teeth and easing toward the molars, since some children are afraid to choke when their back teeth are brushed. Since your baby’s mouth is very small, you would do well in choosing a short toothbrush with a small head that comes with two rows of soft bristles.

When your child reaches three, your child most likely still does not know how to brush properly. As such you need to be ready to keep him supervised. You can put him on the countertop facing you, and you can brush your teeth together. Let him imitate your movements, using 10 counts per side. You also need to start flossing his teeth by this age, because by this time, the spaces between the teeth are likely to have closed. Bits of food can get stuck in those spaces, so you need to get rid of them as soon as possible.

This quick guide should give you a good idea of how to take good care of your child’s teeth from infancy to preschool age. You can see that it really is not complicated, but you just need to be consistent in developing healthy habits. Once you have given him a good head start, you can help celebrate his good dental hygiene as you watch him avoid many dental problems in the future!

How to Raise a Non-Picky Eater

A common worry about mothers especially in this generation of rising obesity occurrences and health awareness is how to get their kids to eat healthy food. As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure, so if you are a new mother, you can spare yourself the countless mealtime battles by starting your baby off on the right foot when it comes to food choices.

Babies typically have their own food preferences, but as a mother of a beginning eater, you have the greatest influence over his common food choices. The following tips should get you started on the road to having a healthy and non-picky eater:

1. Make sure mealtimes are enjoyable times, not battlegrounds. Even from the outset of toddler-hood, babies can already get parents into a battle of the wills at the dinner table. This usually consists of difficulty in getting the child to eat instead of play with his food. The way to make mealtimes enjoyable is to make it a fun bonding time with mom, or with mom and dad at dinnertime. Experts recommend training to be done during lunch with only mom and the baby, and to skip any reprimands at dinnertime in order to help the child incorporate into healthy mealtimes with both parents.

2. For babies, offer blander-tasting food ahead of sweeter and saltier ones. For example, when offering fruit to a toddler, try to do so after he has had the chance to eat some vegetables. That way, you may not have to force him anymore, as his taste buds have not yet been tainted with a longing for something tasting better.

Technically, in terms of the order of introducing solid food, wheat and vegetable products are also recommended ahead of fruit and other textures, so it should get you off on a good start. Then, by the time you can mix them in one meal, offer the vegetable or wheat product first, ending with fruit. Although mixing them into one bowl will tend to make feeding your baby go much faster, thanks to the sweet fruit, you might pay the consequences in later years when your child grows up accustomed to everything sweet.

3. If your child seems to dislike all healthy food after drinking cola at mealtimes, try to avoid offering it at meal times. Make a habit of drinking water throughout the meal yourself, too, so that your child will not be confused why you have a can of Coke and he cannot have any. Indeed, as in nearly all ways that children learn, imitation is still the best key.

4. Vary food choices. This way, vegetables do not always have to look like the green icky stuff that your child already dislikes. Instead, you can try to learn how to make tasty veggie-based casseroles or cream soups. This way you will be offering new treats and they will not even have to know that they are already eating blended broccoli and carrots. You can also discover ways to make smoothies out of vegetables, although these drinks typically rely on lots of sugar to make them taste good, so use them sparingly.

5. As much as possible, keep your child on a diet of fresh unprocessed foods. This means, if at all possible, limit intake of greasy chips, sugary juices and too much sweets from his toddler years. The habit formed early on will be carried through to his preschool years, and you will not have to worry about what types of food he will be eating in school. The more used he is to snacking on fruits, the greater the chances that he would make those same choices in school.

All in all, these tips would not be worth a dime if they are not followed through with your own example. Remember, your child is always watching you and what you eat, too, so your words will only fall on deaf ears if your child sees you wolfing down a gallon of ice cream in one sitting! In any case, if you have had that kind of unhealthy eating habit before, perhaps now you will have enough inspiration to eat healthy yourself!

Dealing with Colds in Toddlers

The common cold is indeed so common, but when it strikes a beloved toddler, we want to do everything possible to make things as comfortable as can be for the little one. After all, the sniffles and stuffed noses can mean that the baby will usually not be able to sleep soundly, as it is extremely uncomfortable.

Doctors typically agree that there is no way to get rid of colds until the symptoms run their course, as it is usually a viral infection, which means that all you need to do is relieve the discomfort as much as possible. Of course, there are things to look for in order to figure out whether the colds require additional doctor’s attention or you can make do with home remedies and wait for it to go away. These simple tips should help you deal with the cold in your little one.

1. The usual way that pediatricians advice parents to tell if the infection is viral or bacterial is to watch the child’s temperature. If he has a low grade fever, as long as it does not stay for longer than three days, home remedies should be fine. But if your baby develops a high fever, or if the fever stays longer than three days, your doctor will generally ask you to bring the baby in for a checkup. He will typically screen through other factors, and if he determines that the cold is bacterial, he will typically prescribe antibiotics. If he finds out that it is viral, he will likely recommend antihistamines and advice you to make sure your baby has a high intake of fluids.

2. Another tell-tale sign that doctors tell you to watch for is the color of the mucous. If it is white and clear, it is viral, and therefore needs no added medication. If it’s green or yellow-colored, it usually means there’s a bacterial infection, and as such antibiotics will normally help to get rid of the bacteria.

3. While the cold is running through its course, it is best to try to keep your toddler well-rested. Of course, this is a real challenge for active tots, but you can try to divert his attention from physically strenuous activities to perhaps quieter activities like coloring or playing with blocks.

4. Also, make sure he gets plenty of sleep. While this is difficult to do when he gets a stuffy nose, you can make use of saline solutions to soften the dried up mucous. You can usually buy these solutions at the local drugstore, in a bottle with a spray-on cap so you can spray it into your baby’s nostrils. When the mucous is loosened, you can use a nasal aspirator to pump the mucous out. If your baby is older, he may refuse to have his nose pumped, but perhaps you can start to teach him how to blow his nose. Along with that, make sure that he is well-dressed for sleep, such as warm enough during cold nights or cool enough for typically warmer nights. If he tends to kick off his blanket, dress him in good comfortable pajamas.

5. If you do give him a bath, make sure the water is not too cold, as when your baby has a cold, he tends to be more sensitive to cold water. If you can heat the water, it would be best. Alternatively, you can rub some baby oil on his body before he takes his bath, as the oil is known for sealing in warmth.

6. Be prepared for some degree of crankiness, as an uncomfortable baby can be more irritable than usual. As such, it would be best if you also get enough rest yourself to give you the strength and patience in dealing with the baby’s mood swings.

These basic tips should give you some help in dealing with a cranky baby with the colds. As you help alleviate the symptoms, he will also feel better and the lesser stress will help in speeding up his recovery, while also giving you greater time to rest as he rests more soundly throughout this period.

How to Know if Your Child Has Dyslexia

Perhaps you have found your child reaching developmental milestones averagely well, but when he starts school, you wonder why he suddenly seems to have trouble. By this point, you may be wondering if he is simply stubborn, doesn’t like school for some reason or another, such as bullying, or if he genuinely has a learning disorder.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects school children immensely, particularly since it affects one’s ability to read letters in the correct sequence when they form words. This is because dyslexia is a problem with visual-motor integration, resulting in poor reading and even writing skills. Unfortunately, dyslexia affects more than just reading and writing, as the disability typically also causes directional confusion and makes it difficult for a person to memorize sequences. This results in difficulty with tying shoelaces, doing long division, which includes several steps, or even touch typing. They may also have trouble memorizing facts that do not seem to have any personal relevance, such as multiplication tables, science facts, and history dates.

This is why it is crucial to detect dyslexia at an early age, in order for the parent to find the proper intervention to help the child learn the basic concepts he needs in life. Of course, for young children, it is quite normal for them to reverse the letters when they are learning to write, which is no cause for alarm. This is perhaps why many teachers shrug off the possibility of dyslexia at preschool age. But there are still some symptoms you might want to look out for, as children who have three or more of these signs typically should be tested for dyslexia by five years of age:

1. Does the child suffer delayed speech, such as not being able to speak any words by his first birthday?

2. Does the child frequently mix up sounds in words with multiple syllables? For example, he might pronounce spaghetti as “bisghetti,” or hamburger as “hangaberg.”

3. Does he stutter at an early age?

4. Does he frequently have ear infections?

5. Does he have trouble mastering tying shoelaces?

6. Does he have confusion about left and right, over and under, before and after, as well as other directional words or concepts?

7. Is he late in establishing a dominant hand?

8. Does he have difficulty learning letters and their sounds? Does he have difficulty writing the alphabet in order?

9. If you have frequently read him stories with rhyming words, like Dr. Seuss’ “Cat in the Hat,” does he have trouble telling you what words rhyme with what by four and a half years old?

10. Does he have trouble pronouncing L’s and R’s, N’s and M’s?

If your child shows at least three of these warning signals, you might do well to have him undergo testing for the learning disability. Take note, though, that dyslexic people do not typically make reading errors at random. There are specific types of errors that they make both for reading and writing. For example, dyslexic kids tend to be able to read a word on one page but fail to recognize it on another. They may also know phonics, but have trouble sounding out an unknown word. They may also have labored reading of single words when shown in isolation.

Of course, strangely, despite these troubles, dyslexic people have been found to be often gifted in math, as three-dimensional skills in visualization allow them to “see” math concepts unlike non-dyslexic people. But they remain challenged with rote memorization and sequencing, which might hinder their gift in math. They may also show great talent in terms of art, athletics, music, mechanical things, people skills, and being overly creative.

In any case, you need to understand that every case of dyslexia may be unique, and if you suspect your child to have it, just have him tested early, as the earlier you can have intervention, the greater chance he has of coping with this learning disability. It might help you to note that many dyslexics have gone on to become very successful people, not in spite of the condition, but rather thanks to their dyslexic gifts. As such, you would do well to have early intervention in order to highlight your child’s gifts as well!

Does Your Child Have Flat Feet?

Do you wonder why your child seems to complain about standing for a long time? Does he seem to work through his shoes rather quickly, leaving them looking worn out and squashed? Does he have trouble keeping his balance when running? Perhaps your child has flat feet.

Flat feet, known as pes planus or fallen arches, is a condition wherein the feet do not have the arch that is present in those with normal feet. It can occur in one or both feet. Of course, when you check babies’ feet, you will probably note that they all look flat, but that is because the arch has not formed yet. The arches usually form by the time the child reaches two or three years old. Unfortunately for some people, the arches never develop.

Flat feet usually do not cause serious problems, although they are usually characterized by symptoms of strain. They can come as a congenital condition, with a person born with it, or when the foot suffers extensive trauma by constantly running on hard surfaces. Sometimes, the feet may appear to have arches when the person is seated and with the big toe bent backward, but as soon as he puts his weight on the foot, the arch flattens out. Flat feet may also come as a result of years of wear and tear that weaken the tendon responsible for holding the arch.

The main symptoms from having flat feet include aching feet after standing for a while and possible swelling on the midfoot when standing. Some experience a visible deformity of the foot, or limping from the loss of push-off strength from the foot. It may also cause lower leg pain, or pain on the inside of a person’s ankle.

If you suspect your child to have the condition, the signs that you can look for include checking his shoes. If his shoes show excessive wear on the mid sole on the inside part of, between the heel and midfoot, there is a good chance that your child has flat feet. You can schedule a trip to a podiatrist to make sure the fallen arches do not affect the hip or the knee. This doctor’s visit is even more important if the child complains of pain when walking or running. The rarest case is when the flat feet are caused by foot bones that have been joined together, which keeps the bones from moving and causes pain.

There are contradicting views about whether special shoes or orthopedic inserts can help the condition. Some believe that wearing inserts helps ease the pain by giving the feet an artificial arch, but others believe that the foot development will not be affected anyway. Indeed, the inserts have been found not to affect the growth, but just seems to offer some relief while they are being worn. This is why, if your child experiences pain on his feet, the doctor is more likely to recommend a shoe insert or a heel cup to alleviate it. It would seem that flexible flat feet that do not cause any pain generally do not need to be treated.

In a few of the cases, complications can come from flat feet. This may include inflammation and pain on the ligaments on the soles of the child’s feet. It may also lead to bunions and calluses, as well as stress fractures on the lower leg. But these are considered to be limited cases, as most flat feet cases do not result in anything more serious.

Fortunately, flat feet do not necessarily limit your child’s physical activities. Although the child with flat feet may feel physical strain on his feet faster than other children, as long as he can still go on, it is no problem. Doctors typically only recommend rest when the feet get painful from overuse. Apparently, wearing special shoes, walking barefoot, or even doing foot exercises have not been proven to help flat feet.

These insights into flat feet should give you the needed peace of mind to assist your child in whatever way he needs. Surgery is usually not considered for flat feet, except in very rare cases. Still, only your doctor can help advice you on that, and most cases can be left well enough alone, so you need not worry yourself to pieces imagining worst case scenarios.