Child Health

I am taking a class with my youngest child – a Mommy and Me Swim Class.

Let me tell you up front that I am not a lover of water what-so-ever – I don’t like swimming pools, ocean or even the beach.

Youth thrown in Water

I had a traumatic experience when I was a young child.  Don’t know who came up with the idea of just throwing your child into a pool – swim or sink concept.

Anyhow, of course I sank to the bottom of the pool floor before frantically emerging out to the surface of the pool flapping my arms and trying to gasp for air – I thought I was going to drown.

My father, along with my older brothers, laughed at my traumatic experience.  I cried to my mother in the locker room, and she gently assured me that I was okay and everything would be alright.

Well, there was a huge “fight” in my house when my mother finally confronted my father’s swim lesson technique (in the privacy of their bedroom), and grounded my brothers for a week for laughing at me.

You have to remember that I was only eight at the time, and I was already scared of the water – so this swim or sink concept totally didn’t work with me. 

On the other hand, my two older brothers swam like a fish – I think they are part fish anyhow (with their small brains and all – LOL) – hey, I can pick on them since they laughed at me at the pool.

After such bad incident at the pool I refused to go into the water until I was in late teens – I think I was 17 when I finally had the guts to reenter the water at my friend’s swim party.

Even though I entered the water with my friends I stayed very close to the edge of the pool, and made sure that no one was too close to my proximity (just in case they start throwing people, including me, in to the water).

I have taken couple of group swimming lessons for adults, and some private lessons, but I am still very uncomfortable with swimming.

So, in order to avoid such fear in my children I made sure that they started taking swim lessons at early age – my two oldest ones took their first swim lessons when they were 3 years old.

However, with my youngest one, I decided to take a Mommy and Me Class together – it makes me face my fear of water, and help develop my child’s kin relationship with the water – a win/win scenario. 

Baby Under Water

Today’s parents are keen of the idea of introducing their children to water at young age, and it has been estimated in 2000 that 5 to 10 million infants and pre-schoolers participate in some sort of water instruction programs in the U.S. 

However, American Academy of Pediatrics of Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness and Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention claims that “generally, children are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday (Swimming Programs for Infants and toddlers).”

Downing is the leading unintentional injury and death in U.S., and highest among children between 1 through 2 years.  Even though aquatic safety programs, such as Mommy and Me Class, are great for initial introduction to swimming, it does not decrease drowning risks.

Actually, it has “… reported medical risks to infant and toddlers that involve being in the water include hypothermia, water intoxication, and the spread of communicable diseases (Swimming Programs for Infants and Toddlers).”

Moreover, “… a study published … demonstrated that chlorine byproducts common in treated summing pools can cause airway changes that predispose children to asthma later in childhood (Teed).”

Alright, with that said, I don’t know if I should still continue on with the lessons – my child loves the water, and maybe I am instilling false sense of security in my child’s head with water.

So, I don’t think I am going to continue with the lessons – a personal choice, and wait until summer time.

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Source:

Swimming Programs for Infants and Toddlers (2000).  AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: Committee of Sports Medicine and Fitness and Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention.  April 2000 vol. 105 No. 4.  Retrieved from http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;105/4/868.pdf (1/27/09).

Teed, N. (2008).  When are kids ready for swimming lessons?  March 30, 2008.  Retrieved from http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/30/when-are-kids-ready-for-swimming-lessons/ (1/27/09).

Popularity: 4% [?]

I just had a parent-teacher conference few weeks ago, and I had to say I was dumbfounded about “conceptual mathematics” the school is teaching my child.

Numbers

I am not an “older” mom so I am going to try refrain myself from saying “back in the days when I was in school …”

So, with that said, I just can’t believe what the school is teaching my child … conceptual mathematics? 

If you didn’t know (not all schools teaches this type of mathematics skills – so don’t worry if you don’t know about this) it is supposed to promote math as a conceptual tool, and not limited to procedural thinking.

Basically, it promotes children to get general understanding of math rather than the specifics – “…places greater emphasis on formulating a solving problems, rather than getting the answer always right (Josh 2006).”

Honestly, what do you mean you don’t have to understand the specifics?  What do you mean they don’t have to get the answer always right?

Alright, I am not trying to say that my child should always get the answer correctly – I know I am not being realistic nor fair for my child to put through such harsh expectations, but kids should aim to get the answer correctly!

Alright with that said … when my husband and I went to the parent-teacher conference, the teacher told us that my child only received 2/4 points (in one of the math questions) because my child didn’t justify (the concept) the answer fully.

Remind you that my child had gotten the answer correctly to the question (1+3=4), but the answer wasn’t fully explained.

I don’t know about you, but 1+3 equal 4, and there shouldn’t be any other justification to the answer, but 4 … to me 1+3 equal 4, and only 4.

How are children supposed to learn math if the basics of math are not specified?  Never mind the fact that how in the heck are they going to balance the check book in the future? 

Are our children going to tell the bank manager that “well, when I was doing an accounting, I conceptualized my spending to be $250 and not $260.” 

Well, here comes the bank fees, bounce checks, and blah blah blah!  I am getting a headache from thinking about it!

I don’t know if it’s fortunate (or unfortunate), but I am not alone.  There are many parents out there as frustrated as we are, but who can afford private education these days?

However, my husband and I are really considering transferring our children to private schools – guess, I have to get a job!

I have heard this conceptual math will be taken out of school curriculum, but I don’t know when; however, I would like to see it sooner than later.

Josh.  Baicc Math – Conceptual Math.  AllExperts.  Retrieved from http://en.allexperts.com/q/Basic-Math-657/conceptual-math.htm (1/18/09).

Popularity: 3% [?]

Oops

Has your young child ever swore right front of your eyes, and totally caught you off guard?  Well, mind did in PUBLIC!

Unfortunately, I didn’t remember Dr. Joanne Briggs’ advice – “laughing … encourage the use of foul language (Swearing and Foul Language).”

I couldn’t help it since it just came out of nowhere – that innocent face saying “crap” just tickled my bones, and embarrassed the heck out of me.

Let me tell you this … it is my fault and I know she picked it up from me.  I do frequently use foul words when I am talking (e.g. crap, hell, shit), but not obscene word (you know those words that I am talking about).

Here is what happened.  Every time we go to the store my oldest one (at this time four year old) always gear towards the junk area.  I keep on telling the child, “Please don’t get any junk!  I have enough crap in the house!”

So, when we went to the local store to get some crafts and told the sales lady, “Wow, you guys really have lots of CRAP in the store!”

Thank goodness, the sales lady was an older woman, and gently told her, “Well, some people might call it that, but I think we have lots of nice things in the store.”

There in the store I turned bright red, and talked with my child about using the bad word.  This is the moment I will never forget!

I remember growing up that using the word “shit” or “hell” was such big no-no.  Actually, I did eat a bar of soap, here and there, for using those words.

However, these words have gotten to be part of American language – we are numb by it. 

Back to the point … Dr. Briggs, child psychologist, said “swearing and bad language usually comes before age six, and you either totally ignore it or say, ‘that’s not acceptable, we don’t talk that way (Swearing and Foul Language).”

Furthermore, Dr. Biggs did suggest that make sure you do not laugh when your child swears, eliminate hard punishments (not necessary), and just do not make a big deal about it either.

We, parents, work so hard to be a great role models for our children, but we are not perfect – we will have some slip ups here and there.

Unfortunately, our children usually pick up just the “right” moment to mimic us!

I have attached an Youtube clip (on Home page) about a child using the naughty word – it is very funny, but I hope I don’t offend anyone – it’s not my intention,

Swearing and Foul Language.  Theparentsreport.com.  Retrieved from <http://www.theparentreport.com/resources/ages/toddler/kids_culture/836.html>  on January 13, 2009.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Youth obesity Click Here! has more than doubled in 20 years among children between the ages of six to 11 (or from 6.5% in 1980 to 17.0% in year 2006)*. On the other hand, obesity in adolescents (12 – 19) increased from 5% to 17.6%.

So what is obesity?  Medical definition of obesity is defined as “… abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual’s ideal body weight**.”

Unlike what most of you might think of obesity (eating unhealthy foods and not exercising) there is no one clear factor leading to obesity, but many complex combination of factors.

For instance, there’s a genetics factor (genetic predisposition), eating habits, physical activity, type of lifestyle, and psychological factor.  However, it’s important to have good nutrition and plenty of fitness activities.

I remember growing up playing with my friends and other neighborhood kids riding the bicycle, running, walking, playing softball, and etc until the street light went on.

We even walked to home after school – if you miss the bus or don’t want to ride the bus home, you had no choice but to walk — there was no “let’s call mom or dad.”

I am one of the guilty moms driving the children around here and there because I worry and think of the worst – there are more crazies out there today.

Yes, you are right — there were crazies out there when we were growing up, but between the media, internet, and parent awareness we see and hear about everything and anything.

Yes, my generation (my fellow parents) has become wusses.  We drive them everywhere, put child safety gear on everything, helmets and knee pads, anti-bacteria wipes and pumps, and etc – don’t worry I am guilty as well.

Don’t you remember playing on the asphalt play ground?  Remember the monkey bars (now they don’t even put it in the play ground)?  Don’t you remember flying out of the swing? — I actually caught my older child doing that and I freaked out!

Wow, how time changes?  We are raising a generation of wimps; however, I rather have a wimpy child than a hurt child.

*Health Youth!  Health topics: Childhood Obesity.  Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion — CDC.  http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/index.htm

** Obesity.  The Free Dictionary.  http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/obesity

Popularity: 2% [?]

My husband and I decided to get our older child an iPod for Christmas.  I have an iPod myself (and my child LOVES it), and I am very careful with the earphones – it’s never loud since I have very sensitive ears.

Besides the price tag (I think it is way TOO expensive) I am not fond of the earpieces.  I am aware of the risks when using the earpieces, and I am very careful with it, but for a child? 

I have heard and read so many horror stories and implications that iPod is doing more harm than good; especially in children. 

Ed Oswald, BetaNews, wrote “The problem lies in the in-ear headphones … sound is now pumped directly into the ear … increasing pressure on the ear (2006).”

Moreover, medical journals statistics estimated that one out of every eight children have noise-induced hearing losses, and the U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety & health Administrations guided that children should not be exposed to noise level greater than 80 decibels (level close to heavy traffic noise).

So I went to the Apple website and found earphones designated for children called “Ultimate Ears Loud Enough Earphones for Kids.”  They are kind of expensive, but I don’t have to worry about my child blasting off eardrums when listening to music.

The earphone is designed for children eight and older, and has built-in-sound pressure protector; which decreases music source up to 40%.

Even though it’s $40 I think it’s a great investment for all of us — it’s a great health promotion.  There are other headphones specifically designed for children online (and cost half of Apple is asking for), so check out which headphones/earphones best appropriate for your child.

Oswald, Ed (2006).  iPod’s headphones Cause Hearing Loss.  BetaNews.  January 19, 2006.  http://www.betanews.com/article/iPods_Headphones_Cause_Hearing_Loss/1137689965

Popularity: 2% [?]