How to Talk to Your Child About ADHD

Talking with your child about his ADHD isn't always easy. But it's important to do, and it goes better if you keep it productive and positive.

"I have two children with ADHD, so I can speak from experience here," says Terry Dickson, MD, director of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic of NW Michigan, and an ADHD coach. "The reason why you need to talk about your child's ADHD with him directly is because you want them to be involved, to understand, and to be on board."

These eight tips will help you talk about it.

When you find out your child has ADHD, that's the time to start communicating with them about it.

"It's never too early to start talking with your child about his ADHD," says Patricia Collins, PhD, director of the Psychoeducational Clinic at North Carolina State University.

You'll talk about it many times as your child grows and develops. Start having those talks as early as possible.

A good approach is to help your child understand what ADHD means, what it doesn't mean, and how to be successful at school and in life. What you say should be appropriate for their age.

"You need to help your child feel special, and like he is part of the plan," Dickinson says. "He should feel like he is involved."

Help him understand that ADHD has nothing to do with his intelligence or his ability, and it's not a flaw, Dickson says.

"It should be a time when you are unlikely to be interrupted," Collins says.

Try to pick a time when your child isn't eager to do something else, like playing outside or before dinner or bed. 

Leave some time for follow-up, so you're available to the child after the conversation is over if he has extra questions.

Many other people have ADHD, too, and everyone with ADHD can be successful. 

Give your child examples of people who have or had ADHD that they might know, like Walt Disney, Michael Phelps, and designer Tommy Hilfiger. 

Let your child know they are special and they can succeed as well as anyone else.

Talk to your doctor, reach out to advocacy groups, and find support groups in your area. 

"One of the best things you can do is talk to other parents who already have experience with ADHD about what they've learned," Collins says.

"Focus on their strengths, what they do well, and praise their accomplishments," Dickinson says. 

"Whether its sports, arts, or dance, they can pursue their interests and do well with your support."

"Kids can't take the easy way out by blaming their setbacks on their ADHD," Collins says. 

"Parents need to help their child understand that ADHD is not a reason to not turn in homework, to not try their hardest, or to give up."

Don't be surprised if your child doesn't respond immediately or seems uninterested, Collins says. 

It takes some children, particularly younger ones, some time for new information to make sense, or for them to know what questions to ask.

"One conversation is just the beginning," Dickinson says. 

"Keep the dialogue going, talk about school, their friends, homework, extracurricular activities, and keep a positive attitude."

View the original article here

Early, Severe Flu Season Caused Big Rise in Child Deaths: CDC

Senior hospitalizations also up during 2012-13 onslaught, U.S. health officials say

By Steven Reinberg

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- This past flu season started earlier, peaked earlier and led to more adult hospitalizations and child deaths than most flu seasons, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.

At least 149 children died, compared to the usual range of 34 to 123, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The predominant strain of flu circulating in 2012-13 -- H3N2 -- made the illness deadlier for children, explained Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist with the CDC.

"With children H3 viruses can be severe, but there was also a lot of influenza B viruses circulating . . . and for kids they can be bad, too," she said.

Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, added that H3N2 is easily transmitted from person to person and has a high rate of complications, which accounts for the increased hospitalizations.

"This is the kind of flu that enables other infections like pneumonia," he said. "Really what people need to know is that flu isn't the problem. The flu's effect on the immune system and fatigue is the problem."

The flu season started in September, which is unusually early, and peaked at the end of December, which is also unusual, Siegel said.

Flu season typically begins in December and peaks in late January or February.

Texas, New York and Florida had the most reported pediatric deaths. Except for the 2009-10 H1N1 flu pandemic, which killed at least 348 children, the past flu season was the deadliest since the CDC began collecting data on child flu deaths, according to the report, published in the June 14 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Older adults were targeted heavily by the 2012-13 flu. Those aged 65 and older accounted for more than half of all reported flu-associated hospitalizations in the 2012-13 flu season -- the most since the CDC started collecting data on flu hospitalizations in 2005-06, the agency reported.

In addition, more Americans saw a doctor for flu than in recent flu seasons, the CDC noted.

The flu vaccine was well matched to the circulating strains, but less effective than health officials had hoped. In January, the CDC reported that the vaccine was about 60 percent effective, which meant it offered "moderate" protection from the flu.

Siegel said even a moderately effective vaccine is better than not getting vaccinated at all because flu symptoms will be milder, with a lower chance of complications.

According to Brammer, decisions about the vaccine for this coming season were made in February so manufacturers could make a sufficient supply for fall. The makeup will be basically the same as the 2012-13 vaccine with some tweaks to some of the strains so they better match changes in the viruses, she said.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated. The agency urges people at higher risk for severe disease -- including young children, pregnant women, anyone with a chronic health problem and the elderly -- to get the vaccine.

Don't make any assumptions about the course of next season's flu based on the recent past, these experts added.

"I wouldn't assume next year's flu season is going to be milder or that it's going to be early," Siegel said. "The flu is unpredictable."

Because the 2012-13 flu season started several months earlier than usual, the CDC also advised doctors to consider influenza as the source of respiratory illnesses that occur beyond the typical flu window.

View the original article here

Could my child outgrow dyslexia or is it permanent?

Posted June 03, 2013, 2:00 am

My first-grader was just diagnosed with dyslexia. Can you tell me more about it? Will my daughter outgrow it, or will she always struggle with it?

Dyslexia is a learning disability caused by a problem in the way the brain processes information. But we are only beginning to understand what the problem is.

Dyslexia makes it difficult to:

identify wordsrecognize the sounds that make up wordsunderstand and remember what is readtranslate printed words into spoken wordsspellorganize or sequence thoughtsrhyme wordslearn the alphabet and numbers during preschool and kindergarten.

A person with dyslexia tends to reverse or misread letters or words. He or she might confuse the letter “b” for “d,” or read the number “6? as “9.” The word “was” may be read as “saw.” Or the order of words in a sentence may get switched around. Because of these difficulties, a person with dyslexia usually reads slowly and hesitantly.

Many young children reverse letters and numbers or misread words as a normal part of learning to read. Children with dyslexia, however, continue to do so after their peers have stopped, usually by first or second grade. It is really important to recognize dyslexia early, before the third grade. Treatments started early are more effective.

Dyslexia is not a vision problem; the eyes do not see words incorrectly. It is also not a problem of intelligence; many people with dyslexia have average or above-average intelligence. Many are extremely successful in life. Many are exceptionally articulate when speaking, but have trouble writing.

Children and adults with dyslexia have no trouble understanding things that are spoken. They are just as curious and imaginative as others. They can understand new concepts as easily, so long as the concepts are described by the spoken word and visual information. They can figure out puzzles as well as others — so long as the puzzles don’t involve written words.

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition that cannot be cured. But children with this disorder can learn ways to succeed in school.

Several techniques and strategies can help. Many are based on the observation that although people with dyslexia have trouble understanding words they read, they usually can understand words that are read aloud by another person. As a result, listening to books on tape rather than reading them, and taping lectures rather than writing notes, can be effective strategies. Computer software that checks spelling and grammar is another useful tool.

With support, most children with dyslexia adjust to their learning disability. And with early and appropriate treatment, many people with dyslexia go on to succeed in school and in their careers.

window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: "199616670120169", status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true});}; (function() { var e = document.createElement("script"); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js"; document.getElementById("fb-root").appendChild(e);}());

View the original article here

8 Tips for Picking a School for Your Child With ADHD

Reviewed by Patricia Quinn, MD

From kindergarten through to grade 12, the average U.S. student spends 2,340 days in school. For a child with ADHD, that's a lot of time with teachers; as a result his educational experience can be positive or negative, depending on the school he attends.

As parents, picking the right school for your child with ADHD can be a major factor in his long-term success. Looking for the following eight things will help you choose a school that provides a positive learning environment for your child, and help you work with the school that may be your only option.

One of the first things you should do when choosing a school for your child with ADHD is to talk with its leaders and educators -- the principal, vice-principal, and the teachers -- to better understand how they approach the learning process.

"Get an idea of who they are and what their learning philosophy is," says Terry Dickson, MD, director of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic of NW Michigan, and an ADHD coach.

Specifically, find out how they approach kids with ADHD.

"What do they offer?" Dickson says. "How do they position these kids for success and help them thrive? Is there flexibility in the learning program to adjust to a student's needs? How do they model good behavior? These are some of the questions you should be asking."

When it comes to kids with ADHD, structure in school is a really good thing, notes Patricia Collins, PhD, director of the Psychoeducational Clinic at North Carolina State University.

Schools that are suited to a child with ADHD focus on structure and consistency as core foundations for learning, with clear timelines, processes, and expectations, and they take a step-by-step approach to learning and homework.

Teachers can be excellent role models for all kids, but this is especially true for kids with ADHD, notes Dickson, who is a parent to two children with ADHD.

A teacher who is impatient and judgmental will make most kids resist learning, but those children might get by. For a child with ADHD, it could derail his entire school year.

A school that encourages a values-based learning process and prides itself on teachers who are excellent role models will most likely be a better fit if your child has ADHD. You'll want your child to be taught by people who are firm but offer integrity and who create a safe and comfortable learning environment.

Children with ADHD do much better using a hands-on approach to learning, Collins says. 

To ask a child with ADHD to sit and listen for hours will probably not work. So instead, look for a school in which kids are actively engaged in learning by experience.

View the original article here

Child Health Experts Come Out in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

Kids benefit from having stable home, two loving parents, regardless of sexual orientation, AAP says

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- Marriage for same-sex couples -- and the right for all parents, regardless of their sexual orientation, to adopt or provide foster care -- is the best way to guarantee benefits and security for their children, according to child health experts.

The stance is outlined in a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), published online March 21 and in the April print issue of the journal Pediatrics.

"Children thrive in families that are stable and that provide permanent security, and the way we do that is through marriage," policy statement co-author Dr. Benjamin Siegel said in an AAP news release.

"The AAP believes there should be equal opportunity for every couple to access the economic stability and federal supports provided to married couples to raise children," added Siegel, who is chair of the AAP Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health.

Another policy statement co-author, Dr. Ellen Perrin, pointed out that the "AAP has long been an advocate for all children, and this updated policy reflects a natural progression in the academy's support for families."

Therefore, Perrin said in the news release, "If a child has two loving and capable parents who choose to create a permanent bond, it's in the best interest of their children that legal institutions allow them to do so."

Studies have found that important factors that can affect children's development and mental health include parental stress, economic and social stability, community resources, discrimination, and exposure to "toxic stressors" at home or in the community. However, there is no evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between a child's well-being and the sexual orientation of their parents, the authors noted in the news release.

The AAP "supports pediatricians advocating for public policies that help all children and their parents, regardless of sexual orientation, build and maintain strong, stable and healthy families that are able to meet the needs of their children," according to the policy statement.

View the original article here

Child Health Experts Come Out in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

Title: Child Health Experts Come Out in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage
Category: Health News
Created: 3/21/2013 10:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM

View the original article here

Women Abused in Childhood at Higher Odds of Having Child With Autism: Study

Title: Women Abused in Childhood at Higher Odds of Having Child With Autism: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 3/20/2013 4:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM

View the original article here

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem expecting second child

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem have confirmed that they are expecting their second child together.

Continue reading...

View the original article here

Destiny’s Child banished members “forgive” Beyoncé

LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson have forgiven Beyoncé for kicking them out of Destiny’s Child more than a decade on.

Continue reading...

View the original article here

Is Your Child Spoiled?

Is Your Child Spoiled? Tips From Child Development Experts Skip to content Enter Search Keywords. Use the arrow keys to navigate suggestions. Health A-Z

Common Conditions

View All ADD/ADHD Allergies Arthritis Cancer Cold, Flu & Cough Depression Diabetes Eye Health Heart Disease Heartburn/GERD Pain Management Sexual Conditions Skin Problems Sleep Disorders

Featured Topics

Identifying Bugs and Their Bites Bothered by Yeast Infections? The Worst Shoes for Your Feet WebMD Symptom Checker Health concern on your mind?

See what your medical symptoms could mean, and learn about possible conditions.

Learn More

Resources

WebMD Expert Blogs: Read expert views and commentary on popular health topics. WebMD Communities: Connect with people like you, and get expert guidance on living a healthy life. WebMD Physician Directory: Find a doctor in your area.

WebMD Pain Coach

Track your pain levels, triggers, and treatments. Set goals and get tips with our app for iPhone. Drugs & Supplements

Find Information About:

Drugs & Supplements

Get information and reviews on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Search by name or medical condition.

Find or Review a Drug Find or Review a Vitamin or Supplement Find Drug Coupons Drug Basics & Safety

Commonly Abused Drugs What's Your Medication IQ? Food, Medical Product & Cosmetic Safety WebMD Pill Identifier Having trouble identifying your pills?

Enter the shape, color, or imprint of your prescription or OTC drug. Our pill identification tool will display pictures that you can compare to your pill.

Learn More

Drug News

Get the Latest Drug Approvals & Alerts Find FDA Consumer Updates Sign up to receive WebMD's award-winning content delivered to your inbox. FDA Approves Diet Pill Belviq FDA Delays Decision on Blood Thinner Eliquis

WebMD Mobile Drug Information App

Drug, supplement, and vitamin information on the go. Living Healthy

Featured Content

Want luxurious locks?

WebMD cuts through the hype to reveal the best kept secrets for healthy hair.

Living Healthy at a Glance

Living Healthy Centers

View All Diet, Food & Fitness

Weight Loss & Diet Plans Food & Recipes Fitness & Exercise Beauty, Balance & Love

Healthy Beauty Health & Balance Sex & Relationships Oral Care Living Well

Women's Health Men's Health Aging Well Teens

Featured Topics

BMI Calculator: Get Personalized Results Portion Size Plate: Easy Serving Size Guide Your Birth Control Options 19 Secrets Men Wish Women Knew Quiz: Weird, Crazy Dreams Food & Fitness Planner: Personalize Your Weight Loss Plan

WebMD the Magazine App

Get every issue of WebMD the Magazine with a free subscription for your iPad. Family & Pregnancy

Featured Content

Traveling abroad?

Protect yourself and your family by learning which health precautions and vaccines are advised for your destination.

Family & Pregnancy at a Glance

Family and Pregnancy Centers

Pregnancy Trying to Conceive First Trimester Second Trimester Third Trimester Parenting Newborn & Baby Children's Health Children's Vaccines Raising Fit Kids Pets Healthy Cats Healthy Dogs

Featured Topics

Know the Signs of Early Pregnancy? Test Your Smarts: What's Safe to Eat When You're Pregnant? Peek Inside the Womb to See How Baby Grows Healthy School Lunches Quiz: Know How to Avoid The Next Toddler Meltdown? WebMD Vaccine Tracker: Manage Vaccinations for Your Entire Family

WebMD Baby App

Get parenting tips, track schedules, and create a mobile baby book. News & Experts

News

View All Today's Top Health Headlines Get the Latest Drug Approvals & Alerts Find FDA Consumer Updates On The Road Again: FDA Mobile Laboratories Sign up to receive WebMD's award-winning content delivered to your inbox.

WebMD Health Experts and Community

Talk to health experts and other people like you in WebMD's Communities. It's a safe forum where you can create or participate in support groups and discussions about health topics that interest you.

WebMD Experts & Blogs

Read expert views and commentary on popular health topics. WebMD Communities

Connect with people like you, and get expert guidance on living a healthy life. WebMD Answers

Got a health question? Get answers provided by leading organizations, doctors, and experts.

Get Answers

WebMD Newsletters

Sign up to receive WebMD's award-winning content delivered to your inbox. My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up

My WebMD Sign In

Please enter email address

Enter your password

Keep me signed in on this computer Show more Information If you select "Keep me signed in on this computer", every time you visit WebMD.com you won't have to type your email address and password. This means that a cookie will stay on your computer even when you exit or close your browser which may reduce your levels of privacy and security. You should never select this option if you're using a publicly accessible computer, or if you're sharing a computer with others. Even if you select this option there are some features of our site that still require you to log in for privacy reasons.

Forget your password? Having trouble signing in?

Why should I
sign up for WebMD?

With a WebMD Account you can:

Track your way to weight loss success Manage your family's vaccinations Join the conversation See more benefits Sign Up Why WebMD? My WebMD Show Menu My Tools My WebMD Pages My Account Sign Out FacebookTwitterPinterest WebMD Home Health & Parenting Center Health & Parenting Guide Email a FriendPrint Article Health & Parenting Parenting EssentialsTeens: Parenting MistakesWays to Stop BedwettingIs She Really Too Sick for School?Help for Tummy Troubles in Kids Hearing Loss in ChildrenIs There an ADHD Diet? Baby Toddler Preschooler Grade Schooler Tween Teen Select a topic to explore more. Baby Care Essentials |Growth & Development|Nutrition & Feeding Development |Discipline|Common Issues|Nutrition & Exercise Development |Discipline|Common Issues|Nutrition & Exercise Behavior & Discipline |Common Concerns|Nutrition & Exercise Behavior & Discipline |Puberty|Nutrition and Exercise Behavior & Discipline |Common Concerns|Nutrition & Exercise Select An ArticleAll Subchapter Articles:Is Your Child Spoiled?The Right Way to Praise Your KidsIs Your Child Misbehaving? Discipline Techniques That WorkWhy Kids Whine and How to Stop Them7 Mistakes Parents Make with Grade-SchoolersHow Much Sleep Do Kids Need?Sibling RivalryBack-to-School To-Do List: Elementary SchoolHelp Your School-Age Child Develop Social SkillsFinding Your Child’s Inner AthleteWhat Every Parent Should Know About BMIMommy Meal MakeoversChild Nutrition and Shopping Tips for Busy Moms webmd.m.share.init(); Font Size A A A webmd.m.fontSizer.init(); Is Your Child Spoiled? Who’s ruling the roost? Set age-appropriate guidelines, and take back control. ByGina Shaw
WebMD Feature Reviewed byRoy Benaroch, MD

Every parent has probably heard it at one time or another: "You're going to spoil that child!" Yet what do we really mean by spoiled child? How do you know if your child is spoiled, and what can you do to avoid spoiling him or her if you haven't done so already?

No Such Thing as Spoiled Children?

Most child development experts cringe at the use of the term "spoiled child."

David Elkind, a professor of child development at Tufts University and author of The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon, says, "That's really a term from a different era. Parents who 'spoil,' often out of the best of intentions, really want to give their children everything without their having to work for it. But the world doesn't work that way."

Why You Can't Spoil a Baby

You cannot "spoil" an infant, Elkind says. "Infants cry when they need something, and it's hard to spoil them because they're not trying to manipulate or maneuver. In infancy, you really need to build the feeling that the world's a safe place."

Later on, he says, it's certainly possible to spoil your child by giving him or her too much, not setting boundaries, and not expecting your child to do what's healthy. But there's no spoiling a 6-month-old.

Peter A. Gorski, MD, director of the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, says, "There is so much questionable parenting literature out there that still talks about spoiling babies. This is a myth that really needs to be addressed."

Research shows that infants whose parents respond quicker to their needs, including their cries, are happier and more independent by their first birthday, Gorski says. They learn to trust that you'll be there when they need you.

What about toddler temper tantrums? Are these children spoiled? No, Elkind says. Tantrums are simply a part of normal development. "This is a time kids are differentiating themselves, and they do that by saying no," he says. "That's normal." It doesn't mean you don't need to set limits for your toddler or that you should always give in. But saying "No no no no no!" every time you want him or her to get dressed or eat lunch doesn't mean the child's spoiled. It just means he's 2.

3 Signs You're Spoiling Your Child

So if an often-cuddled infant and a toddler with tantrums are not spoiled -- how do you tell if your child is?

The cafeteria dining plan. "You serve dinner, and the child doesn't want to eat what's on the table, so you always have to go out of your way to make a special meal," Elkind says. Once or twice is one thing, and of course children with special dietary needs must always be accommodated. But a child who insists on special orders every night could be on the way to being spoiled. "If a 5-year-old misses a meal it won't hurt him," Elkind says.  Tantrums. They're normal in toddlers. But when a 5- or 6-year-old throws a fit because she doesn't get what she wants, that's age-inappropriate. "For little ones, it may be the only way they can express their feelings, but in older children, tantrums are manipulative," Elkind says.  Extreme dependence on parents. If your child can't go to sleep unless you're there, won't ever let you leave him with grandma or a babysitter, and throws fits when it's time to go to school or day care, that's a problem, Elkind says. "Your child depends on you, yes, but as they get older, children have to learn to be comfortable with other people and with being on their own.”

Instead of "spoiled child," Gorski prefers to use the term "overindulged" or "overprotected." These children may indeed "run the house" -- but it's because parents treat them like they're much younger than they are. "A key warning sign," he says, "is any child much older than the toddler years who continues to act like a baby or toddler -- kicking and screaming, biting other children, not using age-appropriate ways of communicating thoughts and feelings. This is a sign that they're not very secure about themselves."

1 | 2 Next Page > SHARE What is this? Next Article:Is Your Child Spoiled?The Right Way to Praise Your KidsIs Your Child Misbehaving? Discipline Techniques That WorkWhy Kids Whine and How to Stop Them7 Mistakes Parents Make with Grade-SchoolersHow Much Sleep Do Kids Need?Sibling RivalryBack-to-School To-Do List: Elementary SchoolHelp Your School-Age Child Develop Social SkillsFinding Your Child’s Inner AthleteWhat Every Parent Should Know About BMIMommy Meal MakeoversChild Nutrition and Shopping Tips for Busy Moms Health & Parenting Guide 1 Baby 2 Toddler 3 Preschooler 4 Grade Schooler 5 Tween 6 Teen #url_reference {display: none};#url_reference { display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10px; }#logo_rdr img { visibility: visible; }.titleBar_rdr .titleBarMiddle_fmt { padding-top: 1.5em !important;}Further Reading:Slideshow: Toddler Milestones -- Your Child's Second Year of DevelopmentAre Your Children Spoiled Rotten? Fits, Tantrums, and Other SignsIs Your Family Out of Control?Getting kids to school without a strugglePositive Time-OutPositive Time-OutPositive Time-OutSee All Child Discipline Topics Related to Parenting & Children’s Health Help for Your Child’s Eczema How Is ADHD Affecting Your Life? Help for Tummy Troubles in Kids The Facts: Kids’ Oral Health Children’s Vision Screening 9 Surprising Reasons to Get More Sleep Child Discipline Home Medical Reference Features Video News Archive Health & Parenting Home News Reference Videos Videos Community Questions and Answers Glossary Health & Parenting Guide 1 Baby 2 Toddler 3 Preschooler 4 Grade Schooler 5 Tween 6 Teen See what others are asking about

Visit WebMD Answers

Related to Parenting Baby Center Baby Development Baby Nutrition Bottle Feeding Breastfeeding Teen Drug Abuse of Cough Medicine Teen Health More Related Topics Top 12 Issues 1. Children's Sleep 2. Sibling Rivalry 3. Quick Clean-Ups 4. Parenting Tweens 5. Healthy Eating 6. HPV Vaccine 7. Kid Hearing Loss 8. Preschooler Milestones 9. ADHD Symptoms 10. Food Allergies 11. Discipline Tips 12. Potty Training 13. Emotional Development Living Healthy Centers Baby & Newborn Balance Children's Health Fitness Food & Recipes Healthy Beauty Pet Health Pregnancy Raising Fit Kids Sex & Relationships Teen Health Women's Health More Family & Parenting This Week on Get Little Kids to Move Afternoon Snacks Kids Can Make How to Ease Teen Stress Today in Parenting Slideshow Does Birth Order Matter? Article Is Dirt Good for Kids?   Article Got Tantrums? Talk Like a Toddler Slideshow 10 Steps to Fast, Easy Cleaning   Tool Girls and Puberty: Had the Talk? Slideshow The Dirtiest Places Kids Will Find   Slideshow Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Video What to Look for in a Pediatric Dentist   Article How Adult Vaccines Help Protect Kids fitSlideshow Show Your Children How Special They Are   Quiz Is It a Cold or the Flu? Slideshow What Are the Symptoms of ADHD?   Subscribe to WebMD Newsletters

WebMD Daily Women's Health Men's Health Weight Loss Wisdom I have read and agree to WebMD's Privacy Policy. Sign up for more topics! WebMD Special Sections Top Questions About Family Health Cleaning and Organizing for Parents Health Solutions From Our Sponsors Vaccine Questions? Support for Depression Hearing Aid Alternative Birth Control for Moms Living with Crohn’s? Chronic Widespread Pain Diagnosed With Low T? Fibromyalgia & Exercise Depression Treatment Blood Sugar Control Vaccines for All Ages Bent Fingers? Are You Depressed? Treating Fibromyalgia Crohn’s Disease Help In-depth coverage: Recognizing & Treating Depression|Healthy Mouth Help|RA Assessment|Living Healthy Guide|Family & Pregnancy Toolbox|Low Testosterone Find us on:URAC: Accredited Health Web SiteHonCode: Health on the Net FoundationAdChoicesAbout WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy Site Map Careers Contact UsMedscape Reference eMedicineHealth RxList Medscape MedicineNet BootsWebMD WebMD CorporateFirst Aid WebMD Magazine WebMD Health Record WebMD Mobile Newsletters Dictionary Physician Directory

©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.

View the original article here

9 Ways to Wean a Child Off Thumb Sucking

Your preschooler won't stop sucking his thumb? Help your child kick the habit for good.

Kara Angelone's 3-year-old daughter Addie was a thumb-sucker from day one -- literally. Tucked away in her baby book is an ultrasound image of Addie sucking her thumb in the womb. Now, three years later, she's still not ready to let it go.

"It makes her feel safe and comfortable," Angelone says. "I can tell it helps soothe her because, whenever she feels stressed, in goes the thumb and she calms down in a second."

But should a 3-year-old still be sucking her thumb? Experts in psychology, pediatrics, and pediatric dentistry say there are things parents can do to help their children move past thumb or finger sucking. 

"Sucking is very natural for babies," pediatrician Robert Anderson says. "It's very common for them to use their thumbs or fingers as part of their routine to find comfort and to soothe themselves."

Within the first few months of life, or even sooner, a baby can become a thumb or finger sucker as a way to fall asleep, to calm down, or to just feel good, Anderson says.

At this stage, not only is thumb or finger sucking common, it is considered harmless in terms of a child's growth and speech development. The questions most parents ask themselves, however, is how long should it go on? Should a child still suck her thumb when she is ready for preschool?

"Usually, a child who is in the 2- to 4-year range will start to develop other coping skills beyond thumb or finger sucking, such as language development," says pediatric dentist Mary Hayes.

Hayes says these coping skills replace the need for a child to suck on a thumb or finger. But for some kids, thumb sucking or finger sucking is harder to kick, which could lead to problems for their growing mouths.

"We used to think that as long as a child stopped sucking by the time they developed their permanent teeth there would be minimal impact on the mouth and jaw," Hayes says. "Now, research shows that thumb or finger sucking can have an impact even at a younger age -- as young as 2 to 4 years old."

Hayes, a diplomate and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, says that the sucking puts pressure on the sides of the upper jaw and the soft tissue on the roof of the mouth. As a result, the upper jaw can narrow, causing the teeth to not meet properly from the top to the bottom. Although this can be fixed with braces, it can also cause speech problems such as a lisp that may need to be corrected in therapy.

The long-term effects of thumb or finger sucking don't stop there. If a child has a cross-bite, a condition in which the upper and lower teeth don't meet properly, it can make it worse. A "thumb hole" in the roof of the mouth, which comes from sucking, can cause the teeth in the back of the mouth to take on the brunt of chewing. This causes an imbalance across the teeth and affects the structure of the mouth and jaw as they are growing with the child.

"The trick is to work with the child to lessen her dependency on thumb sucking or finger sucking before the coping skill turns into a habit," Hayes says.

View the original article here

Is your child ready for a sleepover?

How to handle your child’s first night away from home.

When my daughter was invited to a slumber birthday party in the fall of her kindergarten year, I found myself shaking in my boots. Yes, she'd slept away before, at my parents' house and at the home of close friends. But she'd never slept away with a group of girls -- five were invited to this party -- and at the home of a family I didn't know well.

In my gut and in my rational mind, I knew it was OK. Her friends were easy-going, and I liked both parents. And, perhaps most important, my daughter was eager to go. Still, I was all nerves. "You can call any time you want," I told her as she packed her pajamas, her stuffed bear, and a Judy Moody book.

Ann Douglas, author of several books including The Mother of All Parenting Books: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Happy, Healthy Child From Preschool Through the Preteens, says my anxiety was normal. "This is your very precious child," Douglas says. "On a sleepover, the child is out of your sight and out of your control."

Much of parenting is a process of letting go, Douglas says, allowing children to take and succeed at new steps toward independence. "You're giving the child the freedom of making the leap and trying something new. What we're supposed to be doing as parents is let them take risks, safe risks."

Douglas says each sleepover is different, as is each child. There are no hard and fast rules about age, for example. Although some 5-year-olds might be ready to sleep away from home, some 10-year-olds might not be. So it's important for parents to assess each event individually. How many kids will be there? Who are the kids? Who else will be in the house? Where will they be sleeping? How able is your child to ask for what he or she needs?

Douglas, a mother of four, says vigilance is key. "I've had parents ask really tough questions when I'm having a sleepover, and I've had parents say, 'I want to meet you ahead of time.'" If you don't know the family, it's not a bad idea to have a cup of coffee together. It'll help everyone feel comfortable. "You're vetting the situation," she says.

Once you feel comfortable with the sleepover, give your child the skills she needs to feel secure, Douglas says. Tell her it's OK to call – or come home. "All parents should expect that if their child is upset in the night they'll call," she says. "I would hate to know [afterward] that my child cried all night and no one called me. I'm used to losing sleep; I'm a parent." But be sure they know it's ok to go. "You can't have your children sleeping on your floor when they're 18 so you can pat their little head at night," Douglas says. "They have to leave the nest."

After my daughter's first sleepover, I was glad to hear she had put herself to sleep several hours earlier than the other girls. "She said she was tired and was going to sleep," the other mom told me. My daughter had figured out what she needed without me there to help her. A success.

The end goal is the future: "When your children are older, and they're making the decision whether to accept a ride home from a friend they've accepted every other time, but this time the friend is drunk, you want them to say no," Douglas says.

View the original article here

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome third child

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcomed their third child, a son, on 28th December 2012.

Continue reading...

View the original article here

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West expecting first child

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are expecting their first child together, it has been confirmed.

Continue reading...

View the original article here

Helping Your Child Overcome Embarrassing Situations

By Rebecca Felsenthal Stewart
WebMD Feature

You know the feeling: hot cheeks, wishing you could disappear. You'd do anything to spare your child that sense of embarrassment. 

But those feelings happen, and they're normal.

"Starting around 4 or 5 the world gets bigger for children, and so does their awareness of it, meaning they become aware of dirty looks, teasing, being pointed at, and being different," says psychologist Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, author of Positive Parenting. "Partly that's developmental, and partly it's because of school -- they have so much more peer interaction."

Around this age, kids also start to develop an inner conscience. "When kids are younger their conscience is similar to that of a dog: It's external. Are you going to be praised or get in trouble? During the school years it's becoming internal and children become aware if they do something that violates their own sense of order," Cohen says.

Don't make light of it, says child development expert Betsy Brown Braun, author of Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents.

"It's really the parent's job to empathize and understand," Braun says. "Don't make it bigger than your child is making it, but don't blow it off. If your child says, 'Today I bent over and my pants ripped,' say, "Oh my gosh, that must have been hard.' Ask how she handled it and try to get her talking about it."

If your child says she can't go back to school because everyone will laugh at her, tell her you understand why she feels that way. "You can say, 'Not going back to school is not a workable solution, but I can understand that it feels like the only possible way. We'll have to work together to find a solution'," Cohen says.

A great way to show you understand is to tell your own embarrassing story. Emphasize how difficult it was (not how terrible it was). Admitting how poorly you handled it can help, Braun say, because "it helps your child understand she's not alone."

Braun and Cohen share more tips to help your child get past six common, embarrassing situations.

Farting, sneezing and spraying boogers, throwing up, or even peeing in class are common scenarios for grade-school kids. "The most painful embarrassing moments are ones over which you have no control," Braun says. "These fall under the category of 'couldn't help it.'"

She suggests reminding your kids that everyone farts. "Another thing I tell kids is, 'You know, the reason people laugh or react when something embarrassing happens is because they are relieved that it happened to you, not them.'"

Help your child acknowledge the situation, laugh it off, and move on, says Braun. Tell her to say something along the lines of, "Beans for dinner last night. Sorry." If kids are still teasing, say, "Oh get over it," and try to distract them. Don't pretend it didn't happen.

View the original article here

Helping Your Child Overcome Embarrassing Situations

Skip to content Enter Search Keywords. Use the arrow keys to navigate suggestions. Health A-Z

Common Conditions

View All ADD/ADHD Allergies Arthritis Cancer Cold, Flu & Cough Depression Diabetes Eye Health Heart Disease Heartburn/GERD Pain Management Sexual Conditions Skin Problems Sleep Disorders

Featured Topics

Identifying Bugs and Their Bites Bothered by Yeast Infections? The Worst Shoes for Your Feet WebMD Symptom Checker Health concern on your mind?

See what your medical symptoms could mean, and learn about possible conditions.

Learn More

Resources

WebMD Expert Blogs: Read expert views and commentary on popular health topics. WebMD Communities: Connect with people like you, and get expert guidance on living a healthy life. WebMD Physician Directory: Find a doctor in your area.

WebMD Pain Coach

Track your pain levels, triggers, and treatments. Set goals and get tips with our app for iPhone. Drugs & Supplements

Find Information About:

Drugs & Supplements

Get information and reviews on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Search by name or medical condition.

Find or Review a Drug Find or Review a Vitamin or Supplement Find Drug Coupons Drug Basics & Safety

Commonly Abused Drugs What's Your Medication IQ? Food, Medical Product & Cosmetic Safety WebMD Pill Identifier Having trouble identifying your pills?

Enter the shape, color, or imprint of your prescription or OTC drug. Our pill identification tool will display pictures that you can compare to your pill.

Learn More

Drug News

Get the Latest Drug Approvals & Alerts Find FDA Consumer Updates Sign up to receive WebMD's award-winning content delivered to your inbox. FDA Approves Diet Pill Belviq FDA Delays Decision on Blood Thinner Eliquis

WebMD Mobile Drug Information App

Drug, supplement, and vitamin information on the go. Living Healthy

Featured Content

Want luxurious locks?

WebMD cuts through the hype to reveal the best kept secrets for healthy hair.

Living Healthy at a Glance

Living Healthy Centers

View All Diet, Food & Fitness

Weight Loss & Diet Plans Food & Recipes Fitness & Exercise Beauty, Balance & Love

Healthy Beauty Health & Balance Sex & Relationships Oral Care Living Well

Women's Health Men's Health Aging Well Teens

Featured Topics

BMI Calculator: Get Personalized Results Portion Size Plate: Easy Serving Size Guide Your Birth Control Options 19 Secrets Men Wish Women Knew Quiz: Weird, Crazy Dreams Food & Fitness Planner: Personalize Your Weight Loss Plan

WebMD the Magazine App

Get every issue of WebMD the Magazine with a free subscription for your iPad. Family & Pregnancy

Featured Content

Traveling abroad?

Protect yourself and your family by learning which health precautions and vaccines are advised for your destination.

Family & Pregnancy at a Glance

Family and Pregnancy Centers

Pregnancy Trying to Conceive First Trimester Second Trimester Third Trimester Parenting Newborn & Baby Children's Health Children's Vaccines Raising Fit Kids Mom's Guide to Winter Family Health Pets Healthy Cats Healthy Dogs

Featured Topics

Know the Signs of Early Pregnancy? Test Your Smarts: What's Safe to Eat When You're Pregnant? Peek Inside the Womb to See How Baby Grows Healthy School Lunches Quiz: Know How to Avoid The Next Toddler Meltdown? WebMD Vaccine Tracker: Manage Vaccinations for Your Entire Family

WebMD Baby App

Get parenting tips, track schedules, and create a mobile baby book. News & Experts

News

View All Today's Top Health Headlines Get the Latest Drug Approvals & Alerts Find FDA Consumer Updates On The Road Again: FDA Mobile Laboratories Sign up to receive WebMD's award-winning content delivered to your inbox.

WebMD Health Experts and Community

Talk to health experts and other people like you in WebMD's Communities. It's a safe forum where you can create or participate in support groups and discussions about health topics that interest you.

WebMD Experts & Blogs

Read expert views and commentary on popular health topics. WebMD Communities

Connect with people like you, and get expert guidance on living a healthy life. WebMD Answers

Got a health question? Get answers provided by leading organizations, doctors, and experts.

Get Answers

WebMD Newsletters

Sign up to receive WebMD's award-winning content delivered to your inbox. My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up

My WebMD Sign In

Please enter email address

Enter your password

Keep me signed in on this computer Show more Information If you select "Keep me signed in on this computer", every time you visit WebMD.com you won't have to type your email address and password. This means that a cookie will stay on your computer even when you exit or close your browser which may reduce your levels of privacy and security. You should never select this option if you're using a publicly accessible computer, or if you're sharing a computer with others. Even if you select this option there are some features of our site that still require you to log in for privacy reasons.

Forget your password? Having trouble signing in?

Why should I
sign up for WebMD?

With a WebMD Account you can:

Track your way to weight loss success Manage your family's vaccinations Join the conversation See more benefits Sign Up Why WebMD? My WebMD Show Menu My Tools My WebMD Pages My Account Sign Out FacebookTwitterPinterest WebMD Home Email a FriendPrint Article Health & Parenting Parenting EssentialsTeens: Parenting MistakesWays to Stop BedwettingIs She Really Too Sick for School?Help for Tummy Troubles in Kids Hearing Loss in ChildrenIs There an ADHD Diet? Font Size A A A 6 Embarrassing Kid Situations ByRebecca Felsenthal Stewart
WebMD Feature Reviewed byHansa D. Bhargava, MD

You know the feeling: hot cheeks, wishing you could disappear. You'd do anything to spare your child that sense of embarrassment. 

But those feelings happen, and they're normal.

"Starting around 4 or 5 the world gets bigger for children, and so does their awareness of it, meaning they become aware of dirty looks, teasing, being pointed at, and being different," says psychologist Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, author of Positive Parenting. "Partly that's developmental, and partly it's because of school -- they have so much more peer interaction."

Around this age, kids also start to develop an inner conscience. "When kids are younger their conscience is similar to that of a dog: It's external. Are you going to be praised or get in trouble? During the school years it's becoming internal and children become aware if they do something that violates their own sense of order," Cohen says.

Don't make light of it, says child development expert Betsy Brown Braun, author of Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents.

"It's really the parent's job to empathize and understand," Braun says. "Don't make it bigger than your child is making it, but don't blow it off. If your child says, 'Today I bent over and my pants ripped,' say, "Oh my gosh, that must have been hard.' Ask how she handled it and try to get her talking about it."

If your child says she can't go back to school because everyone will laugh at her, tell her you understand why she feels that way. "You can say, 'Not going back to school is not a workable solution, but I can understand that it feels like the only possible way. We'll have to work together to find a solution'," Cohen says.

A great way to show you understand is to tell your own embarrassing story. Emphasize how difficult it was (not how terrible it was). Admitting how poorly you handled it can help, Braun say, because "it helps your child understand she's not alone."

Braun and Cohen share more tips to help your child get past six common, embarrassing situations.

1. Passing Gas in Public

Farting, sneezing and spraying boogers, throwing up, or even peeing in class are common scenarios for grade-school kids. "The most painful embarrassing moments are ones over which you have no control," Braun says. "These fall under the category of 'couldn't help it.'"

She suggests reminding your kids that everyone farts. "Another thing I tell kids is, 'You know, the reason people laugh or react when something embarrassing happens is because they are relieved that it happened to you, not them.'"

Help your child acknowledge the situation, laugh it off, and move on, says Braun. Tell her to say something along the lines of, "Beans for dinner last night. Sorry." If kids are still teasing, say, "Oh get over it," and try to distract them. Don't pretend it didn't happen.

1 | 2 Next Page > #url_reference {display: none};#url_reference { display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10px; }#logo_rdr img { visibility: visible; }.titleBar_rdr .titleBarMiddle_fmt { padding-top: 1.5em !important;} Top Picks Bedtime Routines to Keep Kids Dry All Night Why Kids Whine and How to Stop Them How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthier When to Tell Your Kids About Sex 7 Tips for Keeping Your Child's Teeth Healthy Assess Your Pet's Health Related to Parenting & Children’s Health Help for Your Child’s Eczema How Is ADHD Affecting Your Life? Help for Tummy Troubles in Kids The Facts: Kids’ Oral Health Children’s Vision Screening 9 Surprising Reasons to Get More Sleep Health & Parenting Home News Reference Videos Videos Community Questions and Answers Glossary Health & Parenting Guide 1 Baby 2 Toddler 3 Preschooler 4 Grade Schooler 5 Tween 6 Teen See what others are asking about

Visit WebMD Answers

Related to Parenting Baby Development Baby Nutrition Bottle Feeding Breastfeeding Family Health Guide Teen Drug Abuse of Cough Medicine Teen Health More Related Topics Top 12 Issues 1. Children's Sleep 2. Sibling Rivalry 3. Fighting Flu 4. Parenting Tweens 5. Healthy Eating 6. HPV Vaccine 7. Kid Hearing Loss 8. Preschooler Milestones 9. ADHD Symptoms 10. Food Allergies 11. Discipline Tips 12. Potty Training 13. Emotional Development Living Healthy Centers Baby & Newborn Balance Children's Health Fitness Food & Recipes Healthy Beauty Pet Health Pregnancy Raising Fit Kids Sex & Relationships Teen Health Women's Health More Family & Parenting This Week on Make a Cheese Tortilla Snack! How Santa Stays So Jolly and Fit Is a Broken Heart Real? Today in Parenting Slideshow Does Birth Order Matter? Article Is Dirt Good for Kids?   Article Got Tantrums? Talk Like a Toddler Slideshow 10 Steps to Fast, Easy Cleaning   Tool Girls and Puberty: Had the Talk? Slideshow The Dirtiest Places Kids Will Find   Slideshow Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Video What to Look for in a Pediatric Dentist   Article How Adult Vaccines Help Protect Kids fitSlideshow Show Your Children How Special They Are   Quiz Is It a Cold or the Flu? Slideshow What Are the Symptoms of ADHD?   Subscribe to WebMD Newsletters

WebMD Daily Women's Health Men's Health Weight Loss Wisdom I have read and agree to WebMD's Privacy Policy. Submit Sign up for more topics! WebMD Special Sections Top Questions About Family Health How Mom Can Stop Germs Health Solutions From Our Sponsors Vaccine Questions? Low Testosterone? Diabetes Care for Kids Birth Control for Moms Blood Sugar Control Advanced Prostate Cancer? Diagnosed With Low T? Fibromyalgia & Exercise Hearing Aid Alternative Insulin Pump Therapy Vaccines for All Ages Knee Pain Relief Depression & Adults Treating Fibromyalgia Relapsing MS Community In-depth coverage: Psoriasis Treatment on Target?|Healthy Mouth Help|RA Assessment|Living Healthy Guide|Family & Pregnancy Toolbox|Check Your Heartburn Symptoms Find us on:URAC: Accredited Health Web SiteHonCode: Health on the Net FoundationAdChoicesAbout WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy Site Map Careers Contact UsMedscape Reference eMedicineHealth RxList Medscape MedicineNet BootsWebMD WebMD CorporateMedical Dictionary-->First Aid WebMD Magazine WebMD Health Record WebMD Mobile Newsletters Dictionary Physician Directory

©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.

View the Original article