In his blog about the importance of providing children with unstructured time, Danny Swerskyprovides some interesting suggestions on how parents can help direct their children's play and imagination.  Reintroducing boredom into children’s lives does not mean neglecting them; rather, it means creating conditions where they can direct their own play and imagination.  Here are a few practical strategies

1. Schedule Downtime – Instead of filling every afternoon with lessons and sports, leave blocks of time open for unstructured play.
2. Limit Screens – Encourage analog activities like drawing, building, or outdoor exploration when boredom arises.
3. Provide Open-Ended Materials – Offer toys and materials (blocks, art supplies, natural objects) that invite creativity rather than dictate specific uses.
4. Resist Quick Fixes – Instead of rushing to solve a child’s boredom, allow them time to wrestle with it and find their own solutions.
5. Model Stillness – Children often mirror adults. Demonstrating comfort with quiet reflection or simple activities helps normalize the value of downtime.

Learning to swim can provide your child a lifelong source of fun and fitness. It also adds a layer of drowning prevention when they're around water.
Here are some of many reasons to enroll your child in swim lessons. Also learn when kids are ready, how to find quality lessons, and why you may want to consider signing up, too!

1. Swimming can be fun! Children of all ages are often enthralled by water. Whether kids jump in, splash at the surface, or toss in objects to watch them float and sink, water endlessly fascinates t them. Learning to swim is one way to engage your child with water and allow them to safely experience the joy that water has to offer.

2. Swim lessons promote water safety.Each year, many young children and teens lose their lives by drowning. Children are naturally drawn to water. And if they do not know how to swim, they can easily get into trouble. The leading reason that children drown is that they wander and encounter a pool or other body of water while unsupervised.
Making sure that children know how to swim is a layer of protection to prevent drowning. Swim instruction includes lessons in water safety that even very young children can learn.
Hear more about when children should start swim lessons in this video from Dr. Ben Hoffman:


3. Swimming is great exercise.Daily physical activity is important for all children. Swimming is a low-impact way to gain strength and endurance while having fun. Children of all fitness levels and abilities can enjoy time in the pool. Becoming comfortable in the water is a great way to build the idea that fitness is fun. Early and regular swimming can lay the foundation for a healthy level of activity and lifelong enjoyment as an adult.

4. Swim lessons promote healthy development. Swimming can support a child's healthy mental development, endurance and strength, general coordination and balance. Children of nearly any age, background, size and physical ability can learn to swim. Swimming allows children of all levels of ability to get outdoors and be active while socializing with their peers. Skills learned in swimming can translate to other sports as well, including building the confidence to try other physical activities.

5. Learning to swim can build self-confidence. Children love to say, "I can do it!" Competence is the ability to accomplish a task well. Competence can lead to self-confidence. As children grow, challenges such as learning to swim help children to develop the confidence to persevere in difficult tasks. In swim class, a child can learn that something difficult can be accomplished over time. Developing competence is a vital step in gaining the independence that children will eventually need to transition into adulthood.

Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/

To determine if your child is ready for summer camp, consider the following signs and indicators:
Independence: Your child can manage basic hygiene independently, such as brushing teeth and dressing themselves. 

Emotional Maturity: They can ask for help when needed and handle feelings like homesickness or feeling left out. 

Curiosity: Your child shows interest in camp activities and is excited about the experience. 

Comfort with Separation: They are comfortable spending time away from home, even if they are not 100% confident yet. 

Open to New Experiences: Your child is open to trying new things and navigating life away from home. 


These signs indicate that your child is ready to grow and experience the benefits of summer camp. Remember, readiness is a process, and it may take time for your child to develop the skills and confidence needed for camp. 

Special parent-child time is crucial for building a strong, trusting relationship and fostering emotional well-being.
It allows parents to provide undivided attention, which is essential for bonding and communication.
This time can be as short as five minutes or as long as an hour, and it should happen with regularity.
Special time:

• helps children feel important and loved
• ​reducing the need for misbehavior to seek connection.
  
• deepens empathy and trust between parents and children,
  
• creates a foundation for cooperation and compliance.
  

Regular special time can improve children's behavior, self-esteem, social skills, and language skills, making it an essential practice for parents. Make sure to build in special time with your child into your daily schedule. 

Help Children Act Calm

• Let them know that it takes more courage to walk away from a fight than to stay and fight.
• Teach them that fights don’t solve problems—they make new ones.
• Remind them that when they get mad but don’t fight, they have really won.

​
​ Sometimes, getting along with other kids is hard. Some kids:

• Get into fights when they are angry.
• Get teased a lot.
• Encourage others to fight.

This can make your child feel bad or get in trouble. Teach your child how to deal with anger and stay out of trouble.

Everyone Gets Mad. Anger doesn’t usually last a long time, but it is a very strong feeling when it happens. Children get mad when:

• Their feelings are hurt or they can’t do what they want.
• Others don’t understand them or lie about them.
• They feel left out or others don’t act the way they want.

When children are mad, their bodies react:

• Their hearts beat faster and their faces feel hot and sweaty.
• It might be hard to breathe and they can’t think clearly. 
• They have a lot of energy and want action.

When children are angry, it is:

• Good to put their feelings into words.
• Not good to hit someone, break things, or say things that hurt.

Teach Your Child to ACT CALM
When children get mad, they can ACT:
Acknowledge

• Acknowledge angry feelings.
• Notice changes in their bodies.

Calm down

• Breathe deeply, count to 10, or walk away.
• Punch a pillow, run, or play music.

Think and talk

• Think about the problem and ways to fix it. If someone doesn’t know what children are trying to say or do, they need to explain themselves.
• Talk with someone about being mad and ways to fix the problem without fighting. If there is nobody to talk to right away, stop and think, “This is why I’m mad and what I need to do is ...”

If someone tries to start a fight, your child can be the one to stay CALM:
Calm down

• Keep a safe distance from the other person.
• Take slow, deep breaths.
• Stay alert and stand tall.

Avoid

• Avoid name-calling or returning insults. It only makes things worse.
• Avoid other kids who may want to fight. Try to talk in private with the kid who wants to fight.

Listen

• Calmly listen to what the other kid says.
• Ask, “What does this person really want?”

Move on
Find ways to solve the problem without fighting.

• Use humor. “I wouldn’t want you to catch my cold.”
• Give a reason. “We’ll both get thrown off the team if we fight.”
• Walk away. If nothing else works, it’s best to walk away.

Children do what they see others do. You are your child’s most important role model.
If your child is still having trouble getting along with other kids, talk with your pediatrician.


Connected Kids: Safe, Strong, Secure (Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics)

• Read to your toddler daily.
• Ask her to find objects for you or name body parts and objects.
• Play matching games with your toddler, like shape sorting and simple puzzles.
• Encourage him to explore and try new things.
• Help to develop your toddler’s language by talking with her and adding to words she starts. For example, if your toddler says “baba”, you can respond, “Yes, you are right―that is a bottle.”
• Encourage your child’s growing independence by letting him help with dressing himself and feeding himself.
• Respond to wanted behaviors more than you punish unwanted behaviors. Always tell or show your child what she should do instead.
• Encourage your toddler’s curiosity and ability to recognize common objects by taking field trips together to the park 

​

Help Children Act Calm

• Let them know that it takes more courage to walk away from a fight than to stay and fight.
• Teach them that fights don’t solve problems—they make new ones.
• Remind them that when they get mad but don’t fight, they have really won.

Sometimes, getting along with other kids is hard. Some kids:

• Get into fights when they are angry.
• Get teased a lot.
• Encourage others to fight.

This can make your child feel bad or get in trouble. Teach your child how to deal with anger and stay out of trouble.



​Everyone Gets Mad-Anger doesn’t usually last a long time, but it is a very strong feeling when it happens.
Children get mad when:

• Their feelings are hurt, or they can’t do what they want.
• Others don’t understand them or lie about them.
• They feel left out or others don’t act the way they want.

When children are mad, their bodies react:

• Their hearts beat faster and their faces feel hot and sweaty.
• It might be hard to breathe and they can’t think clearly. 
• They have a lot of energy and want action.

When children are angry, it is:

• Good to put their feelings into words.
• Not good to hit someone, break things, or say things that hurt.

Teach Your Child to ACT CALM
When children get mad, they can ACT:
Acknowledge

• Acknowledge angry feelings.
• Notice changes in their bodies.

Calm down

• Breathe deeply, count to 10, or walk away.
• Punch a pillow, run, or play music.

Think and talk

• Think about the problem and ways to fix it. If someone doesn’t know what children are trying to say or do, they need to explain themselves.
• Talk with someone about being mad and ways to fix the problem without fighting. If there is nobody to talk to right away, stop and think, “This is why I’m mad and what I need to do is ...”

If someone tries to start a fight, your child can be the one to stay CALM:
Calm down

• Keep a safe distance from the other person.
• Take slow, deep breaths.
• Stay alert and stand tall.

Avoid

• Avoid name-calling or returning insults. It only makes things worse.
• Avoid other kids who may want to fight. Try to talk in private with the kid who wants to fight.

Listen

• Calmly listen to what the other kid says.
• Ask, “What does this person really want?”

Move on. Find ways to solve the problem without fighting.

• Use humor. “I wouldn’t want you to catch my cold.”
• Give a reason. “We’ll both get thrown off the team if we fight.”
• Walk away. If nothing else works, it’s best to walk away.

Children do what they see others do. You are your child’s most important role model.
If your child is still having trouble getting along with other kids, talk with your pediatrician.

Last Updated
 
11/2/2009
Source
 
Connected Kids: Safe, Strong, Secure (Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics)

​From www.healthychildren.org

By: Dina DiMaggio, MD, FAAP

If you are celebrating your little one's first, second, or third Halloween this year, it is important to know how to make the night safe and fun for even the tiniest monsters! Here are 8 tips to consider.

1. Allow for plenty of time to fright-prep
.As a parent, you know your child best. Keep a look out for fears and anxieties about Halloween. The best way to handle fear and get a toddler ready is to discuss what's going to happen. Reading books to your child about trick-or-treating—and Halloween in general—are great ways to help that discussion. You might even want to have your child practice dressing up in their costume before the big day. Toddlers need to know that Halloween is just for fun and the scary stuff is all pretend. If your little one doesn't want to partake in Halloween, then let that be OK. There is always next year, and 12 months can make a big difference!

2. Play with pumpkins.
Allowing your baby or toddler to squish their hands around the insides of a pumpkin you've carved can be a great sensory play activity. There are also plenty of no-carve pumpkin decorating options to try.

3. Go trick-or-treating before dark
.Infants and young children thrive on routine, and it is easy for Halloween festivities to throw those routines off-track. If your schedule permits, try trick-or-treating while it's still light outside so you can stick to your child's regular bedtime. If your child is sleeping, try putting a "please knock" sign on your door for other trick-or-treaters.

If trick-or-treating doesn't start until after dark where you live: 
Check your local library, recreation center or neighborhood news site for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day.

4. Watch for toddler tripping hazards.
Even on their best days and in the best conditions, it is still a struggle for some toddlers to walk without falling. While you won't be able to prevent all of the tumbles, choosing a costume that is not too long or too bulky will help a great deal. Be sure to check the forecast before you go out and try to include layers if needed. Also remember to help your little one climb up and down any steps and porches.

5. Have a "Plan B" costume.
From leaky diapers to spit-up to toilet training accidents, this age is always a reason to pack a backup costume and plan for the unexpected. If potty-training is still a new thing and there's a narrow window between "I have to go" and an accident, you might want to rethink a complicated costume. There is also no harm in putting them in an easy-on, easy-off diaper.

6. Be ready to pack it in early if needed.
A house or costume that's too scary, a trip or a fall, or just a hard day can send your child into the temper tantrum zone. But all is not lost! If your toddler quickly loses interest in trick-or-treating, see if they would prefer to answer the door and hand out candy to all the "big kids" instead. Plus, it can help you reinforce those important sharing skills!

7. Take precautions with added sugar.
Although Halloween and sugar often go hand in hand, the AAP recommends limiting the amount of sugar kids get each day. This may not be an easy task when most Halloween treats are packed with added sugar and artificial colors your little one doesn't need. Look out for snacks and treats that may seem "healthier" but still contain added sugars—flavored yogurts, flavored milk, sugary cereals, granola bars, juices and fruit gummy snacks. Other options for trick-or-treating toddlers, or those who choose not to give out candy, include crayons and notepads, stickers, stamps, chalk, bubbles, tattoos, playdough or stuffed animals.
Here are some ideas for festive but healthy fall treats:

• If your baby is 6 months or older and is just starting solid foods: You can get them into the Halloween spirit with some pumpkin purees. Whether canned, frozen or fresh, pumpkin is packed with nutrients for your growing baby—beta-carotene, vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, calcium and more. Other fall-themed options include butternut squash, sweet potato or roasted apple purees. You can even mix in a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to add in fall-inspired flavors.
• Ideas for older toddlers: Seasonal treats may include soft bites of roasted apples or apple sauce, baked sweet potato fries dusted with cinnamon, apple zucchini muffins, pumpkin-inspired smoothies or fruit ice pops made with fun Halloween molds.

8. Beware of treats that can be a choking hazard.
Keep an eye on what your child has in their mouth at all times while on the trick-or-treat trail—it's so easy to get distracted! It's best to avoid eating while walking or running.

Once your child is ready to enjoy treats at home, keep in mind that babies and toddlers should not have any hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies (jelly beans, etc.), gummy candy, pumpkin seeds or anything with whole nuts. Candy wrappers, stickers, small toys, or temporary tattoos can be a choking hazard, as well. As all parents know, babies and toddlers will put just about anything into their mouths!

About Dr. DiMaggioDina DiMaggio, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of NYC and at NYU Langone Medical Center. She is the co-author of The Pediatrician's Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers, a comprehensive manual written by a team of medical, nutrition, and culinary experts. Follow her on Instagram @Pediatriciansguide.


Last Updated
 
9/26/2023
Source
 
American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Early Childhood (Copyright © 2022)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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Courtesy of Nemours KidsHealth

From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and parents. Here's how to make it a safe, trick-free treat.

(Note: Follow your area’s COVID-19 guidelines and keep kids home if they’re sick with COVID-19 or any other illness.)

Dressing Your Little Ghouls & Goblins

• Choose a light-colored costume that's easy to see at night. Add reflective or glow-in-the-dark tape to the costume and to the trick-or-treat bag.
• Only buy costumes labeled "flame-retardant." This means the material won't burn. If you make your own costume, use nylon or polyester materials, which are flame-retardant.
• Make sure wigs and beards don't cover your kids' eyes, noses, or mouths.
• Masks can make it hard for kids to see and breathe. Instead, try using non-toxic face paint or makeup.
• Don't use colored or decorative contact lenses, unless they're prescribed by a licensed eye doctor.
• Put a nametag — with your phone number — on your children's costumes.
• To prevent falls, avoid oversized and high-heeled shoes. Make sure the rest of the costume fits well too.
• Make sure that any props your kids carry, such as wands or swords, are short and flexible.

Trick-or-Treating Basics
Kids under age 12 should:

• always go trick-or-treating with an adult
• know how to call 911 in case they get lost
• know their home phone number or your cellphone number if you don't have a landline

Older kids who go out on their own should:

• know their planned route and when they'll be coming home
• carry a cellphone
• go in a group and stay together
• only go to houses with porch lights on
• stay away from candles and other flames
• know to never go into strangers' homes or cars

For all kids:

• According to Safe Kids Worldwide, the risk of kids being hit by a car is higher on Halloween than on any other day of the year. So make sure all kids:
  • walk on sidewalks on lit streets (never through alleys or across lawns)
  • walk from house to house (never run) and always walk facing traffic when walking on roads
  • cross the street at crosswalks and never assume that vehicles will stop
• Give kids flashlights with fresh batteries. Kids may also enjoy wearing glow sticks as bracelets or necklaces.
• Limit trick-or-treating to your neighborhood and the homes of people you know.

When kids get home:

• Help them check all treats to make sure they're sealed. Throw out candy with torn packages or holes in the packages, spoiled items, and any homemade treats that weren't made by someone you know.
• Don't let young children have hard candy or gum that could cause choking.
• Have kids wash their hands before eating and don’t forget to make sure they brush their teeth.

Keep Visiting Ghouls Safe Too!

Make sure trick-or-treaters are safe when visiting your home too. Remove anything that could cause them to trip or fall on your walkway or lawn. Make sure the lights are on outside your house and light the walkway to your door, if possible. Keep family pets away from trick-or-treaters, even if they seem harmless to you.

Halloween Goodies — What You Give Out and What Kids Get

• Make Halloween fun for all — including kids with food allergies. Consider buying Halloween treats other than candy. Stickers, erasers, crayons, pencils, coloring books, and sealed packages of raisins and dried fruits are good choices.
• As you check what your kids brought home, keep track of how much candy they got and store it somewhere other than their bedrooms. Consider being somewhat lenient about candy eating on Halloween, within reason, and talk about how the rest of the candy will be handled. Let kids have one or two treats a day instead of leaving candy out in big bags or bowls for kids to eat whenever they want.

Medically reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD
Date reviewed: October 2022

Water-absorbing gel beads sold as sensory toys and used in vases and gardens are a growing problem among young children.

What are water beads?Made of superabsorbent polymer chemicals, water beads are also known as jelly beads, hydro orbs, crystal soil and gel beads. They are also called sensory beads, used as play tools for children with autism and other developmental conditions. When the tiny, hard plastic balls are placed in water, they can grow up to 1,500 times their size. The clear, colorful beads can then be dried out and reused.

Why water beads can be dangerous for young children
​The problem is that because water beads look like candy, young children may be tempted to swallow them. Kids also have put them in their ears, and even inhaled them. The beads can continue to grow once inside the body, causing blockages and life-threatening damage. And the beads may not be visible on X-rays. 

Although the beads are labeled as "non-toxic," concerns also have been raised about the safety of the chemical acrylamide used to make them.
Water beads safety tipsIf you are interested in buying water beads, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

• Consider waiting until all the children in your household are at least 3 years old.
• Only use water beads on a table over a hard floor. Sweep or vacuum immediately afterward. Because some are the size of a pinhead when dry, they are difficult to find or notice if they fall on the floor.
• Store the water beads in a tightly sealed container. Keep it in a safe place that young children can't reach.
• Supervise children when using water beads. 

Have some water beads been recalled?
Deaths and injuries of children have prompted recalls of water-absorbing balls, beads and toys shaped like fruit and animals. Recently, a recall was issued after one baby died and another was seriously injured from swallowing water beads in an activity kit.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has many reports of children being injured after ingesting water beads. Many cases involve young children under 3 years old swallowing water beads given to their older siblings.

In two CPSC reports, children were treated for ear infections when doctors couldn't spot clear beads in their ears during an exam. The delay in finding the beads allowed them to grow until the kids, who were 5 and 7 years old, needed surgery. Both have ear drum damage, and one hearing loss. Poison Control reported a 6-month-old who needed surgery after swallowing a water bead; the baby later died from an infection.
​
If you suspect your child swallowed water beads or put them into their ears, seek treatment right away. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or get online help.Signs your child may have swallowed water beads

• Refusing to eat
• Lethargy
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Wheezing
• Complaints that something is stuck in the throat or chest
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Abdominal swelling and soreness

More information

• Water Bead Toy Kits Recalled Following Death of 10-Month-Old Child
• Are Water Beads Toxic? (Poison Control)
• How High-Powered Magnetic Toys Can Harm Children
• Home Safety Tips for Families

Last Updated
 
9/14/2023
Source
 
American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence ＆ Poison Prevention (Copyright © 2023)