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Friday, December 21, 2012

Social Media, Tweens, and Teens: Pointers for Parents

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WebMD Feature Reviewed byHansa D. Bhargava, MD

Whether or not you're tweeting or sharing your daily thoughts on Facebook, you have to acknowledge it: Interacting with friends online is a fact of life for your children.

"These connections are really integral to the social lives of today's kids," says Caroline Knorr, parenting editor for Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that helps families navigate the world of media and technology.

Besides the benefits, there are also risks. That's where you come in.

"It's a parent's responsibility to parent around the technology", says Shawn Marie Edgington, author of The Parent's Guide to Texting, Facebook and Social Media.

Getting Started

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all require children to be at least 13 years old to join. That's because of the "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act," which limits companies from collecting personal information about kids under 13. "

Some kids younger than 13 dodge those age limits by faking their birth date and setting up an account, whether their parents know it or not.

"Parents need to ask their children on a regular basis, ‘Do you have a Facebook account? Do your friends?'" Edgington says. She recommends that when you buy your child a cell phone, one of the conditions is that she can't get a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account until age 13 and you approve it.

If you’re tempted to make an exception for them, you might want to consider the message you're sending if you allow them to break the rules by lying, about whether they're mature enough to behave safely and responsibly, and about what you will do to monitor their activity (such as "friending" them).

Once your child is of age and has your permission, sit down together to set up the account. Use all the privacy restrictions available and don't give unnecessary information like cell phone numbers, Knorr says.

This is also a good time to talk about what not to post, such as your home address, your child's location, and any inappropriate pictures (including those that have "geotagging" that gives away the child's location.)

Instruct her never to "friend" anyone she doesn't know, and never to share her password, Edgington says. Tell her that she can come to you if anything happens online that makes her uncomfortable.

Setting Ground Rules

Write a contract for your child about how they behave on social media. Outline consequences: "If you take away a 16-year-old's cell phone, it's worse than taking away his car," Edgington says.

Remind your child that social rules apply online, Knorr says.

Explain that it comes down to how she wants to portray herself to the world, and that once something is online, it's hard to make it go away. "Everything your child posts is about his image and brand because it's going to be there forever," Edgington says. Colleges and employers check social networking sites and do Google searches on applicants.

Though the concept of long-term consequences may not click with your child right away, keep reinforcing it.

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Is Your Teen Lying to You?

ByGina Shaw
WebMD Feature Reviewed byHansa D. Bhargava, MD

Trying to figure out if your teen is lying to you can be tricky.

Researchers who study lying and truth-telling among children have found that parents often can't tell when their child is lying.

Since trying to catch your teen in a lie is probably a waste of time, family therapists say you're better off using a different tactic: Make it easier for your teen to tell you the truth.

"Punishing for lying just teaches children to be better liars," says psychologist Laura Markham, PhD, author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids.

Ideally, you would help your child get comfortable telling you the truth from an early age. But if your child is already a teen, it's not too late to show her that she can be honest with you, if you’re ready to work at it.

“It can take a year of consistently shifting the way you approach lying for your teenager to trust you enough to tell the truth,” says Joe Broome, MA, a family therapist in Renton, Wash.

To start rebuilding the relationship:

Spend time with your teen every day. It doesn't have to be a major event. Just share part of your day with them, one on one. Markham suggests doing something that your teen enjoys, such as getting a manicure or playing video games. Expect them to test you. "They won't immediately confide in you," Markham says. "They might tell you that their friend Robbie got in trouble because of XYZ. Robbie's a test. If you fly off the handle and say ‘Oh no, do Robbie's parents know about this?' they'll never tell you anything again. But if instead you say, ‘Wow, Robbie must have been so upset. I wonder how he felt. I wonder if lots of kids do this,' you'll encourage him to talk more." Don't overreact. When your teen tells you something that freaks you out, stop and breathe. Bite your tongue if you have to. "When your teen does start confiding in you, it's even more important to really regulate your emotions," Markham says. That doesn't mean that there aren't consequences. You need to clearly define for your teen, ahead of time, how you'll respond if they lie and how much you value honesty. Then you'll need to follow through. Just do it calmly, without flying off the handle. Help your teen problem-solve. Instead of telling him what you think about what he's just confided in you, ask him what he thinks. "If your teenager tells you that other kids are drinking and driving, the impulse is to freak out," Markham says. But taking a simple "Just say no!" approach shuts down the conversation. "Instead, you can say something like, ‘It must be so hard and scary when someone who's been drinking wants you to get in the car. It would be embarrassing to be the one to say something, wouldn't it? What can we do so you're not in that situation?'"

Every parent wants a silver bullet to deal with lying. But there is no such thing. "It's about building a relationship based on trust," Broome says. "You, as the parent, have to take the lead in that."

View Article Sources

SOURCES:

Joe Broome, MA, family therapist, In It Together Counseling, Renton, Wash.

Talwar, V. Applied Developmental Psychology, 2009.

Laura Markham, PhD, clinical psychologist; author, Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids. Telephone interview.

Reviewed on December 19, 2012 © 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. #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

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Scientists Working Toward Pill for Celiac Disease

ByBrenda Goodman, MA
WebMD Health News Reviewed byBrunilda Nazario, MD

Dec. 21, 2012 -- Scientists say they’re working on a pill that may one day help people with celiac disease tolerate foods that contain gluten, a protein that is found in wheat and other grains.

“It would be pretty much like the Lactaid pill,” says researcher Justin B. Siegel, PhD, an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine, and chemistry, at the University of California at Davis, referring to a product that helps people who get an upset stomach when they drink or eat dairy foods.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers describe testing a new enzyme called KumaMax that breaks down gluten.

In a test tube, the enzyme -- which was discovered in bacteria that live in Japanese hot springs and modified slightly in the lab -- dismantled more than 95% of a protein component that’s thought to trigger celiac disease.

The enzyme hasn’t yet been tested in people. Researchers say that’s the next step.

Gluten-Free Diet: Getting Started

Other Research Also Under Way

They aren’t the only group working on this kind of a treatment for celiac disease, says Joseph A. Murray, MD, a gastroenterologist and celiac disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Murray recently reviewed experimental approaches for treating celiac disease, but he was not involved in the research.

A company called Alvine pharmaceuticals is also testing an enzyme-based pill. Early results show that people with celiac disease who got the experimental pill had less damage to their small intestine after eating food containing gluten compared to those who got a placebo. But larger studies are needed to confirm those results.

Even if the pills work, they “won’t be a passport to eating gluten with impunity,” says Murray.

“It probably will only reduce your sensitivity to gluten, it won’t block it. Instead of taking in no gluten, you might be able to take in the equivalent of half a slice of bread and get away with it. It’s very unlikely that you could eat a pizza and get away with it,” says Murray, who has been a paid consultant for Alvine.

“It may make life better, but it’s really an adjunct to the continued effort to be gluten-free.”

Tough to Avoid Wrong Foods

In celiac disease, gluten proteins trigger an immune system attack on the lining of the gut. Over time, damage prevents the absorption of important nutrients and may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that cause hair loss, depression, and brittle bones.

Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is to avoid foods that contain gluten.

Murray says many of his patients find that despite their best efforts to avoid wheat, they end up eating some at least once a month because it turns up in foods they didn’t prepare themselves or because they can’t say no to a favorite treat.

“It’s very difficult to avoid. We’re in a very gluten-rich environment,” Murray says.

View Article Sources

SOURCES:

Gordon, S. Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nov. 15, 2012.

Joseph A. Murray, MD, gastroenterologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Justin B. Siegel, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine, and chemistry, University of California at Davis, Davis, Calif.

© 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. #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 Tips for Going Gluten-Free Medications for Celiac Disease Illustrations: Anatomy of the Digestive System How to Save Money on Produce Recipes for Low- and No-Lactose Meals Join the Discussion in the Celiac Disease Community Celiac Disease Health Center Topic Overview Health Tools Cause Symptoms What Happens What Increases Your Risk When To Call a Doctor Exams and Tests Treatment Overview Prevention Home Treatment Medications Surgery Other Treatment Other Places To Get Help Related Information References Credits See what others are asking about

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FDA Approves Tamiflu for Infants

ByJennifer Warner
WebMD Health News Reviewed byBrunilda Nazario, MD

Dec. 21, 2012 -- Children as young as 2 weeks old may now be treated for the flu with Tamiflu.

The FDA expanded its approval today for Tamiflu to include infants under age 1 who have had symptoms of the flu, such as stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, fever, and body aches, for no longer than two days.

It is not approved to prevent flu infection in this age group.

Tamiflu is now the only drug approved to treat the flu in children under age 1, who are at higher risk of developing complications of the flu.

Until now, Tamiflu was approved to treat the flu in adults and children ages 1 year and older who have had symptoms for less than two days. The drug is also approved to prevent flu infection in children and adults over 1 year of age.

Correct Dosing for Infants Essential

FDA officials say there is a fixed dosing schedule for children and adults over age 1, but dosing for children under 1 year old must be calculated for each infant according to their weight.

Children under age 1 should receive 3 milligrams of Tamiflu per kilogram of body weight twice daily for five days. This smaller dose requires a different dispenser than what currently comes in the Tamiflu package.

“Pharmacists must provide the proper dispenser when filling a prescription so parents can measure and administer the correct dose to their children,” Edward Cox, MD, MPH, director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. “Parents and pediatricians must make sure children receive only the amount of Tamiflu appropriate for their weight.”

Infants at Risk for Flu Complications

According to the CDC, children younger than 2 years old are especially vulnerable to developing complications from the flu. Infants 6 months of age and younger have the highest rates of hospitalization for the flu.

The FDA based its approval of Tamiflu for children under age 1 on data from previous studies in adults and older children.

Two new safety studies in 135 children under 1 year old with confirmed cases of the flu also showed the safety profile in infants was consistent with that found among older children and adults.

The most common side effect in these studies was vomiting and diarrhea.

Rare cases of severe rash, skin reactions, hallucinations, delirium, and abnormal behavior have been reported with use of Tamiflu but were not found in these new safety studies.

View Article Sources

SOURCES:

FDA.

News release, FDA.

WebMD Drug Information from First DataBank: “Tamiflu Oral.”

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Music Bonus: Apocalypse Someday

A journey through Steve's digestive system

Howdy, Nerd Herd. I'm trying something a little different today. Here's a little video explaining how we digest food. Let me know what you think.

Posted byDenis Fayeat12:21 PM

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Weight Loss Diet And Exercise

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Friday, December 21, 2012