ML Interest Tag: inform

How to Talk to Children about the Coronavirus

by Jennifer Swartvagher

With all the media coverage around the spread of the Coronavirus, it’s very probable that your kids have seen the headlines or heard about the virus at school. Children may be worried about how the virus could affect not only them, but also their family and friends. To help minimize their fears, it is important that we not avoid the topic and provide them with facts and reassurance in a calm manner. 

Andrea Barbalich, parenting expert and newly appointed Editor in Chief of The Week Junior, has some advice for parents when talking with your kids about the Coronavirus. 

Keep your kids informed. Barbalich said, “It can be scary for children when they pick up pieces of information from various sources and do not have all the facts. Help them form a complete picture of what the coronavirus is by explaining it to them in a simple way and letting them ask as many questions as they like.”

Let them know what plans the government and health organizations have in place. Reassure your child that there is a team of experts focused on fighting the virus. Explaining treatments and quarantines will show them what is being done to help prevent the spread of the virus.

If your child is worried about contracting the virus, you can assure them that chances are very low and that it tends to impact older individuals and people with health complications and weaker immune systems. Researchers have also stated that children are particularly resilient at fighting off the virus.

Mother and child washing hands

Most importantly, teach your children the importance of good hygiene. Washing hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap is the best way to minimize the spread of the virus. Children should also be taught to cough and sneeze into their elbow and avoid touching their faces.

Barbalich advises parents to be mindful of their own actions. She said, “Kids learn a great deal through osmosis and can read the sentiment in a room well. If you are discussing coronavirus within earshot of your child, remain calm and avoid evoking a sense of panic that they could pick up on.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Jennifer Murray from Pexels

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Was the Super Bowl Halftime Show Family-Friendly?

By Emily Lynn Paulson

The super bowl halftime performance last week caused a lot of noise on social media! One phrase that I noticed being thrown around was “family-friendly” and it got me thinking, what does this even mean? Is it based on values, or morals, or some sort of social indoctrination? Isn’t it subjective, considering every family is different?  

Let’s take a step back. If your kids were watching at halftime, you were exercising your right as a parent to let them watch it. If the resulting outcome was disapproval or disgust, does the fault lie with you as the parent or the network? Perhaps the NFL or the artists themselves? Who ultimately has control of the content that goes from the TV directly into your child’s impressionable brain? 

My vote: the parents. 

Don’t get me wrong, figuring out which content is appropriate for kids (no matter what your version of appropriate is) can be dizzying. The TV and Movie Parental guidelines rating system is fairly helpful, but not always accurate, so parents still have to be aware of what their children are watching all the time.

I’ve watched some PG-13 movies that are benign because the adult humor goes well over my kid’s heads, yet some PG content has caused nightmares in our house (I’m looking at you, Coraline). Unfortunately, this rating system does not apply to news or sports programming, including the super bowl and its halftime performance. 

For the record, my kids did not watch it, not because I didn’t allow it, but because they were busy doing other things. When the Seahawks don’t make the cut, my kids lose interest. However, If they had watched, I would have been ok with it and would have addressed questions, if any, as they came up. It was perfectly “family-friendly” for this family. 

If for some reason it had been objectionable to one of my kids, it would have been MY responsibility for allowing them to watch. It isn’t up to JLo and Shakira to set a good example for my family. That’s our job as parents.  

You might say, “But, I didn’t know it would be that risque!” Ok, fine, but again, isn’t this part of informed parenting? Maybe next time, before letting your kids watch, you could give the performers a google? The content should have been no surprise (the performances and outfits were on par for both artists), and you would have been fully prepared to skip it or hit the off button on your tv. Family-friendly in YOUR home is up to you to decide, not the network, not the producers, not the performers.

Let’s step back even further. If your kids were watching football in the first place, and you were offended by the halftime performance, how do you justify watching the cheerleaders who are scantily clad during each and every game? Before JLo and Shakira took the stage, your kids had already taken in a whole lotta skin, gyrating, and jumping up and down via the sidelines. 

How about the commercials for Viagara and violent R rated movies? I know that when my 7-year-old watches football with his dad, I am on guard to turn certain commercials off or ask him to look away. I’ve watched enough football games to KNOW there is content that scares him sometimes! They are not family-friendly in my opinion, but we do our best with the content to make it appropriate for his eyes. Again, it isn’t up to the advertisers to parent my kid. What they watch is ultimately up to us as parents. 

If the halftime performance wasn’t your cup of tea, that’s cool! I liked it and found it super entertaining, but I respect and understand the viewpoint of those who thought it was too risque for their taste. We all have our own level of comfort. But ultimately, if your children watched and now you’re offended because it wasn’t “family-friendly,” then it’s a good time to remind yourself who is in charge of your family, and the content they watch. You hold the remote. 

 

Emily Lynn Paulson
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Emily is the author of Highlight Real: Finding Honesty & Recovery Beyond The Filtered Life. 

As a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, recovery advocate, educator,  and speaker, she is passionate about connecting women with resources for healing. Emily lives in Seattle with her husband and their five children. 

   
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5 Trends You Can Talk About with Your Teenage Grandkids

By Evelyn Johnson

With all the challenges one has to face when they’re older, sometimes it’s best to focus on the good things. This could be in the form of experiences and wisdom you’ve gained or life’s greatest gifts—your grandchildren. 

Unfortunately, for some grandparents, their biggest fear comes true as their grandkids grow and alienation starts dominating the once sweet relationship they once shared with them. But talking to your grandchildren shouldn’t have to be so tough as they enter their teen stage. In fact, if you have great communication skills, you can continue to be an integral part of their lives and enjoy the beautiful bond that you have with them. 

How and What to Talk About with Your Grandchildren?

Some things to bear in mind when talking to your grandkids include being open and friendlier. Explore the interests of your grandkids and get to know them more by keeping an open mind. Only occasionally chime in to give advice, but don’t constantly pester them. 

You can talk to your grandkids about the latest trends since those would be relevant to them and will give you a chance to know more about what’s happening in their lives as well. But what trends can you discuss with these teens? Let’s give you some ideas. 

1. Talk about Popular Apps Like TikTok. Teenagers these days are so into making videos of themselves acting to clips from movies. Of course, we’re talking about the TikTok mania. This latest obsession has become so big that even marketers are seeing the potential in collaborating with young TikTok stars to promote their products. If your grandchildren are into this particular channel, talk to them about it. You could listen to their interest in it, watch their videos, and then even give them an idea of how they could use the platform to their benefit if they have lots of followers. Sure, the app may seem weird at first but you will grow to like it. 

2. Talk about Fashion Trends. If your teen grandchild is anything like other kids these days, he or she is probably completely immersed in the fashion world. This means the teen in the hours cares way too much about looking ‘dope’ at all times by following celeb fashion or some popular fashion trends for teenagers these days.

This would be a great topic to open a conversation about with your grandkid. But don’t criticize. Listen to their opinions and ideas and support some of them before fulfilling your urge to tell them which clothes are suitable, and which are too scandalous.

3. Talk about Games Like Pokémon Go. Gaming is very popular among teenagers. Again, don’t start the conversation by chiding the child for being on their phone or device too much. Talk about their favorite games and see if they can even create a profile for you so you can play too.

4. Talk about Movies and TV Trends Like Stranger Things. Pop culture has always been of great interest to teenagers. If your teen grandchild is into movies, then they may be a big fan of the Avengers movies or DC films like Joker. One great way to connect with your grandkid is by talking about these movies. If you are interested, you could also watch movies with your grandchild and then talk about them. You could talk about what things you liked about characters and what you didn’t. If your kid is into the Netflix series, you could talk about shows like Stranger Things, and Money Heist. One show currently trending? You on Netflix.

5. Talk about Trending Celebrities. Teens are crazy about celebrities so that would definitely make a fun topic to discuss with your teen grandchild. Just so you are somewhat informed before opening the convo, know these days kids are into celebs including Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, Shawn Mendes, and Billie Eilish. You could chat about these known personalities and ask your grandchildren what they think about them, what they like and what they dislike. 
 

A writer by day and a reader by night, Evelyn is a blogger and content marketer from Australia. She started her career as a junior writer in an Ad agency but with the passage of time her passion from food and travel grew so much.
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Amy Schumer Shares Details about Her Scary C-Section

by Erica Loop

Comedian and new mama Amy Schumer recently got real about her pregnancy and c-section delivery. While on an episode of the Informed Pregnancy and Parenting Podcast, the actress opened up about hyperemesis gravidarum, having a c-section and endometriosis.

After a pregnancy filled with more than just morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum), the vomiting didn’t end at labor. According to Schumer, she threw up for the first hour of her c-section.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6hmuj3Jeo3/

The actress revealed, “I was throwing up through the first hour of my c-section. It’s supposed to take about an hour and a half—mine took over three hours because of my endometriosis.” She went on to add, “And that was really scary.”

Even though Schumer initially planned to deliver in a birthing center with the assistance of a doula, the actress eventually realized a hospital birth was in the cards. “It was a rainy Sunday and I woke up vomiting and was like the sickest I’d been the whole time,” she said of the big day. “And I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ I was so big and I was so miserable and couldn’t keep anything down.”

Schumer also shared the pivotal role her husband, Chris Fischer, played in the birth saying, “It was kind of brutal,” she said. “… But Chris was so great—we just stared in each other’s eyes and he just held me there. Then they let me hold Gene for a good amount of time. I got to see him and hold him.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Amy Schumer via Instagram

 

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Is Baby’s Bedtime a Dream or a Nightmare?

By Lora Heller

Photo: Heller Family Photo

I admit to having been jealous of my friends whose babies could be put to bed awake, parents walking away and closing the door, and baby sleeping for 6 or 8 or 10 hours (or simply sleeping!). I felt for my friends who tried to ‘sleep train’ but whose babies couldn’t regulate. I empathized with my friends who co-slept especially if not by choice. We were in some middle ground of sorts—not cosleeping, not crying it out, but not able to leave the room until our boys were so sound asleep that they couldn’t detect the vibrations of our exit. It was exhausting. And yet it was extraordinary. 

Bedtime was a series of extended rituals: bathing, reading, singing, nursing, rocking, more singing. Over time, the routine morphed into their choice of storybooks (one for each) and songs, requesting who would read (mom or dad—usually it was dad with his fun character voices), deciding where they’d lay down (their own beds separately or with each other on one). Before they were talking, they used sign language to make these requests and to engage with us, and as they continued to grow, bedtime became the time they told us the most about their day or their desires or their worries. They asked questions. The conversations were deep and significant. The dreaded bedtime became a welcome time together, even special. 

In October the Hearty Soul posted an article indicating that laying down with your kids at night is not a bad habit. They talk about Attachment Parenting (AP), but it’s not as exclusive as that. I don’t consider myself to have been in the tight AP circles so to speak, but I do agree with the philosophy of continuing to deepen the parent/child bond as they grow up. I strongly believe that the time with my kids at night was one of the things that led to healthy attachment and independence. 

My kids grew up in the city, so they learned to navigate the subways and more; they developed street smarts; they became independent and felt empowered to do so. They were different kids, though. Despite the same sleep-time needs, one was ready to travel on his own around town at a younger age than the other, but they did it on their own time and did it very well. I also appreciated that my younger son, even at 18, still liked to say good night in person, at his bedside (and he was able to fall asleep on his own!). 

Every family should feel comfortable with their own routines and choices. It’s important not to feel pressured by other parents and families but to do the research and make informed choices for yourselves. Most of all, listen to your child. Sure, kids can be manipulative, I know, but there’s usually a reason for it; they’re also teaching you something about them and their needs right from day one. And eventually, they won’t want you around as much (in my opinion) so take it while you can!

 

Lora Heller is a music therapist, Deaf educator, and author of several sign language books for kids. She has also written for music therapy professional publications and national parenting magazines and is the on-line expert for various parenting programs including ParentsTV.com baby sign language video series. Lora founded Baby Fingers in 2000. www.mybabyfingers.com 

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This Mom Got the Surprise of a Lifetime—Times Three

by Erica Loop

Dannette Giltz got the surprise of a lifetime. The South Dakota mom though kidney stones were the culprit behind sharp back pains, but as it turns out something much larger was the cause.

Giltz did what most of us would when she experienced unexplained pain—she went to the hospital. The mama expected to hear that she’d need surgery, telling KOTA News, “I started getting pains, I figured it was kidney stones because I’ve went through them before.”

When Giltz arrived at the hospital the doctors informed her that kidney stones weren’t the root of her problem. Instead, she was in labor—with twins!

As if the news of twins wasn’t a shock in itself, Giltz was about to get an even bigger surprise. The mom told KOTA News, of her labor and delivery, “It was quiet, we thought they were done. He’s over there, kind of like rocking like, thinking of the names and then she’s like well we need another blanket and his reaction is like excuse me, put it back, no, I was told I have twins, I’m not doing triplets. She’s like no, there’s three babies in here, there’s triplets.”

Not only did Giltz have no idea she was pregnant. The mama had naturally conceived triplets and carried them to 34 weeks. Giltz added, “Everyone’s like I can’t believe it, I’m like we’re still in shock, trust me, we know what you mean like I go to the doctor’s thinking I’ll have surgery for kidney stones and end up going into labor with a c-section that night. It’s crazy.”

Even though Giltz didn’t know she was pregnant, the triplets are thriving. According to her Facebook page, “Updated picture of the triplets they are 5 days old tonight doing good progression is perfect hopefully they keep it up and next couple of days they should be coming home.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Wish TV via YouTube

 

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How Do Music Classes Help Your Child Develop?

By GoBambino Kids Activities

There are many different class types and activities available for you child, and you may wonder about the benefits of each type. Being a parent, after all, means looking out for our kids’ best interests! The good news is that each type of class benefits your child, so no matter what activity you sign them up for you’ll be helping them grow and develop. And the best way to choose a class is to follow your child’s interests, because the more engaged they are in a class the more they will get out of it. With that said, it’s always good to have more information so that you can make a more informed decision.

Music classes are very popular, especially for young children and babies. This is for good reason!  Music classes are great for young children’s fine motor and cognitive skills.  Even the most simple instruments, such as shakers and maracas, require fine motor skills such as reaching and grasping.  Many instruments require bilateral coordination or using two hands together, such as cymbals or a triangle. And lots of instruments require the use of a tool, such as a mallet or a drumstick, which is also great practice for early fine motor skills development. 

Cognitively, your child will be learning a lot of language skills as they learn the words to songs.  They will also be learning about patterns as they listen to the rhythm of the music and hand motions that go along with songs.  Research has shown that early exposure to music is good for helping to develop early math skills.  The best part about a music class is that your young child won’t even feel like they are working because they will be having so much fun!

Once your child is school-aged music classes tend to advance to lessons for one particular instrument. This is both age and developmentally appropriate as your child’s fine motor and cognitive skills become quite advanced. Learning an instrument will help both of these skill sets grow. All instruments require finger movement, and as the playing gets more advanced, so does the fine motor skill level required to play. Not only must your child be able to move their fingers without looking, they will also have to do so quickly, move different fingers in different directions at the same time, and follow a rhythm while doing so. On top of that, most instruments require the use of both hands, which means your child must coordinate their two hands together to get the sound right. These are really advanced skills that take a lot of practice, which is why playing an instrument takes so long to master! As far as cognitive skills, playing an instrument requires learning what is virtually a new language—musical notes. Additionally, learning to follow a rhythm takes a lot of attention and inhibition, which are executive functioning skills essential for higher level cognitive functioning.

Whether your child is still a baby or old enough to start to learn an instrument, you can’t go wrong signing them up for a music class though Go Bambino!

This post originally appeared on Bambinoculars.
GoBambino Kids Activities
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

GoBambino helps parents discover and book kids' activities, lessons, classes, camps and workshops. Stress-free and commitment-free. We built GoBambino to simplify (ever-so-slightly) the chaotic lives of today’s moms and dads.  

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Safeguard Your Kids: Safety Tips for National Safety Month

By Melody Porter

For those of you who didn’t know, June is National Safety Month. There are a lot of months dedicated to different causes in order to raise awareness about different issues, but our kids are our whole heart, the love we have for them is indescribable. So being paranoid about their safety is completely normal. Sure, all those stories on the evening news are freak accidents that occur in very rare situations, but worrying is second nature to moms.

That’s why keeping yourself informed about the dangers of the world is so important. Simply knowing what’s going on and the odds of it happening to your child can ease your mind.

The kidnapping stories are horrifying and seem to be occurring more frequently each day. As much as parents do to keep their children safe, there are 800,000 children reported missing each year. However, there are some environments where children are at greater risk for kidnapping.

From restaurants to hotels to car dealerships, one study set out to locate exactly which locations are the most subject to kidnapping. The results might surprise you.

Kidnapping Happens the Most within the Home

Your home is supposed to be the place where you feel most safe and protected but it’s also the place where your child is at the highest risk of abduction. Though this likely varies significantly dependent on city and neighborhood, homes are the location of approximately 1.43 abductions each hour. But no need to instantly freak out and flee your home, odds of kidnapping within the home are still only one in over 26,000.

The best way to make sure your child never becomes one of those statistics? Stay alert and increase protection. With the advancement of technology, you can own some of the highest-tech security gadgets at a relatively affordable cost. Introduce tools such as motion sensors or video cameras so that your eyes aren’t the only ones responsible for your family’s safety.

It’s also notable that 49% of abductions are considered “family kidnapping” meaning that the perpetrator is someone related to you. You love and trust your family, so it’s hard to believe that this could be possible. But unfortunately, not all abductions are committed by random, villainous strangers as they are stereotypically depicted.

The Second Most Dangerous Location is Outside

The highway, road, alley, street or sidewalk is the second riskiest place for abduction. This should come as no surprise but we should engrain it into our children to never walk alone outside after dark, especially not down a deserted alley. But how prevalent is kidnapping in this setting? The odds of abduction in this location are significantly lower than within the home at one in over 120,000.

The Happiest Place on Earth is Also the Safest

Despite amusement parks being a location well-known for being populated with children, this is the safest location under study. Maybe it’s due to the high surveillance, large crowds, or steep price of admission, but it’s safe to say that kidnappers do not frequent roller coasters and carnival games. Odds of abduction here are one in over 325 million so you can rest easy on worrying about taking your kiddos on the vacation of their dreams.

This isn’t meant to instruct you to avoid places or heighten your fears and worries, obviously, you can’t avoid your home. What’s more important is knowing where you’re at risk and knowing what you can do to potentially avoid it so your little one can play on!

 

Hey all, I’m Melody. I’m a part-time parenting and lifest‌yle writer but a full-time mom of both 2-legged and 4-legged family members. Forever trying to clean glitter off something or other. 

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Has Your Child’s Favorite Toy Been Recalled?

By Melody Porter

As a parent, keeping your child safe is understandably your utmost priority. That’s why when buying products for your little ones, it’s definitely important that you know what you’re buying and have peace of mind that you can trust the source or brand of the thing you’re buying. The last thing you want is to give your child a toy they adore and get attached to, only for it to be recalled two weeks later.

But sadly, some things aren’t up to snuff.

A recall can be a nightmare for a parent, not only being forced to rip the possession away from their child, but also planting fear that the product has harmed their child in the process. In fact, there are a number of recall trends like this that have come up over the last decade. Nearly one-third of all recalls are in the children’s product market, so being informed is key to avoiding dangerous products.

So, Why are Products Recalled?

While some children’s products are recalled for simple reasons that may not phase you like some kind of obscure federal regulation, other reasons can pose very serious concerns. When a product doesn’t get used exactly how the retailer intended, it can result in choking, strangulation, entrapment, or laceration. Those experiences are no joke, which is to say that no matter how intelligent your little one may be, a defective toy can have some dangerous effects that certainly should not be risked.

Amazon is the Leading Retailer with Recalls

Of all children’s recalls, just under 17% of them derived from popular online retailer Amazon.com. We all know and love how convenient Amazon is. You can order while you’re making dinner, you can order while you’re trying to put the babies to sleep…you name it. But while this site is incredibly convenient for parents to shop without taking too much time out of their busy lifest‌yle, it is incredibly important to read the product details and reviews in full so that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing for their child.

The only other retailer responsible for over 10% of children’s products recalls was former Toys-R-Us with 118 recalls in the past decade. Other retailers that make up the top five in recalls include Target, Walmart, and Kohls. It’s safe to say it would be wise to keep these recalls in mind the next time you’re shopping for something for your little one.

The Most Common Response is a Refund.

While retailers and manufacturers can respond in a variety of ways when they realize there was an oversight, the most common response is to refund the consumers. This is the most common response especially when a product is recalled for choking, ingestion, fire, or federal reasons.

Other popular methods of dealing with the issue is to replace or repair the product. Manufacturers can also opt to provide new instructions, labels or advise people to dispose of the merchandise. For products recalled for strangulation, lead violation or entrapment, the solution was often unspecified.

The moment manufacturers realize their product could place consumers in the eye of danger, they will quickly take action to minimize future damages. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to recalls and instructions of the companies who created the gadget.

While no parent can be perfect, being an informed parent gives you just one more tool to plant under your belt to deal with whatever life throws at your family. You definitely shouldn’t live in fear of a toy lighting on fire and burning your child, but you should pay attention to recalls when they arise. Telling a child they can’t play with their favorite toy anymore can be a difficult task, but it could also be essential to their safety.

 

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Funniest Parenting Tweets of the Week: May 17, 2019

by Karly Wood

Tough week? We’ve got you covered, tired parents! Whether you’re limping to the finish line that is school or trying to manage too many activities, our roundup of funny tweets will give you the reprieve you need. Sit back, relax and keep scrolling!

 

1. One of life’s big questions:

2. 🙄

3. Mom fail.

4. Every time you go to McDonald’s Playplace, you remember why you don’t go to McDonald’s Playplace.

https://twitter.com/StranDadAbroad/status/1128273354232823808

5. Oh, it SO does.

6. Parenting conundrum, at its finest.

7. YOU get a bag and YOU get a bag!

8. Fingers crossed!

9. Works every time.

10. Nope, he won’t!

11. And other things I’d never thought I’d say.

––Karly Wood

 

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