tag:www.naturalawakenings.com,2005:/categories/healthy-kids?page=9Healthy Kids Healthy Kids | Natural Awakenings Magazine Page 9Healthy Living Healthy Planet2021-03-02T14:21:45-05:00urn:uuid:76a35080-2642-4df5-93cb-6f79e2fa4a322019-08-16T00:20:14-04:002021-03-02T14:21:45-05:00Expecting Moms Can Protect Against Autism: Prenatal Vitamins Lower Risk2018-07-31 13:13:49 -0400Rachael Oppy<p>Mothers that take folic acid or multivitamins before and during pregnancy can significantly lower a child’s risk of autism, according to the latest research published in the <em>Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry</em>. Researchers from Canada, Israel and the School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City, studied 45,300 children, at the age of 10 on average, correlating children’s autism spectrum diagnoses with records of mothers’ supplementation.</p>
<p>They found that women that took the supplements prior to pregnancy were 61 percent less likely to have a child diagnosed with autism. Taking supplements during pregnancy was linked to a 73 percent reduced risk. The overall likelihood of autism was 1.3 percent of the children.</p>
<p><br>
<em>This article appears in the August 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:20eda07e-b9e5-4aef-a007-c897dbbabee62019-08-16T00:43:36-04:002019-08-16T00:43:36-04:00Simplified Parenting: Why Less Means More Happiness2018-07-31 12:29:42 -0400Deborah Shouse<p>Parents wishing to simplify child-raising seek less stress and more fun; less scheduling and more casual time; less “shoulds” and more “want-tos” less second-guessing and more confidence.<br>
</p>
<p><span class="dropcap">F</span>or a happier family life, experts encourage parents to stay true to their own values, strengths and sense of family purpose, focusing on the wonders of their children instead of endless daily tasks. It begins with each child feeling loved.</p>
<h3>Learn Love Languages</h3>
<p>For Gary Chapman, Ph. D., author of <em>The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively</em>, understanding each child’s particular needs for touch, affirming words, quality time, gifts or acts of service is foundational to parenting success. “Other than security, a child’s deepest need is to feel loved,” says Chapman, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “If their love tank is full, children grow up emotionally healthy. Knowing a child’s preferred language helps parents effectively communicate their feelings. The question is not, ‘Do you love your children?’ It’s, ‘Do your children feel loved?’”</p>
<p>As Chapman arrives home, his son rushes to hug him, grinning while his dad tousles his hair. Chapman’s daughter often calls out, “Dad, come into my room. I want to show you something.” This is how he communicates with each child in their primary love language.</p>
<p>Parents learn their children’s preferred communication style by observing their behavior, noticing how they express love and listening to them. They can also offer options and track results. For example:</p>
<p>• Would you like to take the dog to the park (quality time) or for me to help you study for a test (acts of service)?</p>
<p>• Would you like to wrestle (touch) or shop for your new shoes (gift)?</p>
<p>“Ideally, we offer heavy doses of the child’s primary language and sprinkle in the others,” says Chapman. “Children who feel loved respond better to suggestions and discipline. They also learn how to express their feelings.”</p>
<h3>Avoid Unreal Idealizing</h3>
<p>Some parents carry a mental snapshot of their ideal child, perhaps envisioning a kid that is into sports or even-tempered or academically gifted. Often, that picture is very different from the actual child.</p>
<p>The first step to truly accepting the child is to allow ourselves to feel whatever authentic feelings pop up. The parent might think, “I love my son, but am struggling; I adore sports and may never get to share that with him.”</p>
<p>“Give yourself time to process disappointment,” advises Susan Stiffelman, a Los Angeles marriage and family therapist, mother of one and author of <em>Parenting Without Power Struggles: Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids While Staying Cool, Calm and Connected</em>. “Then identify the things you love about your kids and share those with them.” As just one example, we might convey that we love the sound of their voice and how gentle they are with the baby.</p>
<p>“Appreciating our children as they are is one way to keep our hearts open,” says Stiffelman.</p>
<h3>Focus on the Good</h3>
<p></p><div class="image-with-caption image-align-right">
<img alt="michaeljung/Shutterstock.com" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/574725/Father-Son.png"><div class="small">michaeljung/Shutterstock.com</div>
</div>When Barbara Unell, a parent educator and author of <em>Discipline With Love and Limits: Calm, Practical Solutions to the 43 Most Common Childhood Behavior Problems</em>, birthed twins, she was initially daunted by the work of caring for them. Then she began simplifying by focusing on the “wow” factors.
<p>“Being a parent speaks to the core of our humanity. Experiencing the growth and development of a human being is miraculous. I started looking at parenting through that lens,” says Unell, who lives in the Leawood, Kansas, area.</p>
<p>Asha Dornfest, of Portland, Oregon, a podcaster, co-author of <em>Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less</em> and mother of two, relates, “I paid more attention to my values and my family’s unique needs and was less influenced by parenting experts, social pressures and well-meaning peers.”</p>
<p>Dornfest explored her own values by asking, “What did I learn from my parents?” and, “How do I want my family to be different?” She also practiced trusting her intuition. “Even when I’m not certain I’m right, I know I love my children, I’m doing my best, and I’ll make adjustments if necessary,” she says.</p>
<h3>Create Rhythm and Rituals</h3>
<p>Rhythmic activities ease the anxiety of family transitions and furnish warm solidarity, consistency and connectedness. “Increasing the predictability of meals, bedtime and other rituals also improves family life,” says Davina Muse, a mental health counselor and mother of two from Great Barrington, Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Muse serves as training director for Simplicity Parenting, a program based on Kim John Payne’s book <em>Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids</em> that offers a connective ritual families can merge with mealtimes. Each person describes a “rose” (one good thing from the day) or a “thorn” (one challenging thing) and a “bud” (one thing they’re anticipating).</p>
<p>Such sharing builds a family connection and helps kids discuss difficult issues, notes Muse. Also, “Describing the bud lifts everyone’s mood.”</p>
<p>Every Friday evening, the Dornfests share a Sabbath dinner, a low-key way for them to gather and talk. “This ritual adds a rhythm to our week and anchors us,” says Dornfest. </p>
<h3>Elect De-Stress Over Distress</h3>
<p>Everyone can sometimes become over-scheduled and overwhelmed; a balance between scheduled time and downtime is necessary to well-being. In her daily check-in, Dornfest confers with herself and her husband, inquiring, “How are things going? Are they too hectic? Is our schedule energizing or draining?”</p>
<p>She advises, “When I feel like I’m riding a runaway train, I slow down. There seem to be so many ‘shoulds’ in parenting; we instead need to discover what our family loves.”</p>
<p class="pullquote">
<strong>Simply Raising Children Resources</strong><br>
<a href="http://AFineParent.com/blog"><em>A Fine Parent</em>, blog</a>, Sumitha Bhandarkar<br>
<a href="http://EditYourLifeShow.com"><em>Edit Your Life</em>, podcast</a>, Asha Dornfest<br>
The book <em>Parent Hacks: 134 Genius Shortcuts for Life with Kids</em>, by Asha Dornfest</p>
<p>Before enlisting a child for an activity, Dornfest suggests we ask why it’s important: Are you making up for your own missed opportunities as a child? Are you worried your child will miss out? Do you equate these lessons with being a good and caring parent?</p>
<p>Parenting is more than checking off lists and tasks. It’s about being connected with children. Build in playtime, roughhousing, chase each other around the yard, toss balloons or balls together, blow bubbles and welcome opportunities for laughter.</p>
<h3>Soothing Quiet Time</h3>
<p>Children that act out or withdraw may not have enough downtime. Take the kids outside to play. “Nature is very soothing,” says Muse. “Climbing trees, searching for rocks and pine cones, playing with dirt, sticks, water and leaves all offer healing down time.”</p>
<p>To escape from worries and distractions, Stiffelman suggests three or four minutes of meditation or simply designated quiet time. For little ones, lay a stuffed teddy bear on the child’s tummy and have them notice how the animal is moving. A parent and child can also be aware of the sounds they are hearing, plus incorporate a little mindful breathing into the bedtime ritual.</p>
<h3>Know the Power of Space</h3>
<p>Most parents think their children would go crazy if half their toys and books were removed, but this isn’t true.</p>
<p>“My trainers and I have worked with thousands of parents on decluttering, and the results have been powerful,” says Muse. The Simplicity Parenting approach encourages parents to discard broken toys, give away anything no longer being played with and attractively store current playthings. She observes, “As you decrease the quantity of toys and clutter, you increase the child’s attention and capacity for deep play.”</p>
<h3>Build Resilience</h3>
<p>Simplifying parenting means releasing the notion that children must be happy, well-behaved and delighted with life and their parents at all times. Unell used the daily multitasking challenges with her twins as exercises in developing resilience and modeling these skills for them. If children spill milk, the parent comments, “No big deal. We all spill things.” When there’s a minor accident, “Let’s just get towels and clean it up.” A resilient attitude is, “Something goes wrong, we fix it.” It’s also about being flexible and coping with disappointment.</p>
<p>“To build resilience, parents need to feel comfortable in the presence of an unhappy child,” says Stiffelman. “If parents don’t allow children to be disappointed, kids can become rigid, lack confidence and struggle with unreasonable expectations.”</p>
<p>During meltdowns or disappointments, she recommends sitting quietly, listening, and then empathizing and helping put the children’s feelings into words. “This is not the time to lecture or advise,” she says. “Upset children can’t really listen.” Yet, they can be heard—a key way to help them mature.</p>
<p>Parents that learn to simplify happily discover that their children feel calmer and more loved, socially and emotionally adept, and resilient. Concepts focused on creating connections, rather than parenting perfection, are easy to weave into everyday life. </p>
<p><br>
<em>Deborah Shouse is a writer, speaker, editor, dementia advocate, parent and grandmother. She’s also the author of </em><a href="http://dementiajourney.org/">Connecting in the Land of Dementia: Creative Activities to Explore Together</a><em>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Heart-Strong Parenting</strong></h3>
<p class="by-line">by Deborah Shouse</p>
<p><img alt="michaeljung/Shutterstock.com" class="photo-caption" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/574726/Happy-Family.png"></p>
<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>ncorporating love throughout the day keeps a child’s tank full. Consider these tips from love languages expert Gary Chapman.</p>
<p><strong>Physical Touch – Get Close</strong></p>
<p>• Greet the child with a hug</p>
<p>• Stroke their hair while they talk about a challenging day</p>
<p>• Snuggle while watching TV</p>
<p><strong>Affirmations – Encouraging Words</strong></p>
<p>• Put a positive note in the child’s lunch box</p>
<p>• Appreciate something the child did or said</p>
<p>• Create an encouragement jar, with praising words to use as needed</p>
<p><strong>Quality Time – Periods of Undivided Attention</strong></p>
<p>• Ask a specific question about their day that elicits discussion</p>
<p>• Schedule a date with each child</p>
<p>• Create something together, like a photo album</p>
<p><strong>Gifts – Tangible Expressions of Love</strong></p>
<p>• Make a special meal or dessert; maybe do it together</p>
<p>• Have some small gifts the child can choose from as rewards for positive actions</p>
<p>• Seek natural gifts, like a special feather, stone or flower</p>
<p><strong>Acts of Service – Volunteer Assistance</strong></p>
<p>• Ask, “How can I help you today?”</p>
<p>• Help a child repair a broken toy or resolve a challenge</p>
<p>• Do a family service project together</p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>True Happy Meals</strong></h3>
<p>When there’s a little time and energy, use these ideas to connect.</p>
<p>• Start by smiling upon seeing the kids.</p>
<p>• Throw together an impromptu picnic and eat on the living room floor, in the yard or at the park.</p>
<p>• Ask the kids to read aloud while parents cook.</p>
<p>• Balance a soft item on a spoon held between the teeth and stage a fun race.</p>
<p>• While cooking, keep kids busy preparing a restaurant-style menu, a place setting with utensils wrapped in paper napkins and a way to take orders.</p>
<p>• Put on aprons and whip up homemade pizza, cupcakes or something unusual, like BLT pancake sandwiches.</p>
<p>• Buy write-on, wipe-off place mats and have kids doodle while they wait to eat.</p>
<p>• Dress up for dinner. Wear old Halloween costumes, put clothes on backwards or eat in pajamas.</p>
<p>• Share thanks. Everyone shares one thing they are grateful for.</p>
<p><br>
<em>Source: Adapted from </em>101 Fun Things To Do With Kids To Enjoy Everyday Family Life<em>, by Sumitha Bhandarkar</em></p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the August 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:7d25a64f-ef96-4b40-8a82-5efbe4494f012019-08-16T00:26:38-04:002021-03-11T16:40:15-05:00Natural Immune Boosters for Kids: How to Power Up Their Defenses2018-07-31 12:29:31 -0400Marlaina Donato<p>Strong immunity is a cornerstone of optimum health, and may be weakened or enhanced by what we eat and how we manage our emotions. Starting young in incorporating good ongoing habits can go a long way toward building a better immune response to whatever a person encounters.</p>
<h3>Kid-Friendly Foods</h3>
<p>Organic strawberries, brightly colored peppers, vitamin D-rich eggs or almond trail mix can turn a child’s brown bag lunch into an immune-boosting power meal. “Diet is one of the main pillars for children’s health. I teach parents and kids that food can be fun, and not to be obsessed with counting calories or portions,” says Dr. Alina Olteanu, a holistic pediatrician in Dallas, Texas. “I recommend an anti-inflammatory diet based on lots of colorful vegetables and fruits, and healthy fats like fish, nuts, seeds, avocado and olive oil. Eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickled vegetables and kimchi supports a healthy microbiome.”</p>
<p>Adequate protein supports healthy immunity, as does reducing inflammatory foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), caramel color, sodium nitrite, food dyes and chemical preservatives. Such measures help reduce the burden on a child’s immune system. According to Naturopathic Doctor Sarah Anne Rothman, of Thyme Integrative Health, in Pacifica, California, limiting or eliminating processed sugar is also recommended; studies by Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California, show that sugar consumption suppresses immune response for five hours.</p>
<p>Olteanu notes, “Desserts can be fruits and a small amount of dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants and actually healthy.” Her favorite sweetener for kids older than 1 year is raw honey; however, she cautions against giving honey to infants during their first year.</p>
<h3>Exercise and Herbal Allies</h3>
<p>Exercise has been shown to increase blood and lymphatic circulation and in turn, helps move antibodies through the system and do a better job at fighting invaders, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Exercise is also a renowned stress-reliever, especially outdoors, which manifests the bonus of vitamin D fortification from healthy sun exposure. “I strongly encourage all my patients to spend at least an hour a day playing outside,” says Olteanu.</p>
<p>Childhood stress is a real factor that can weaken immunity, yet juvenile anxieties may be dismissed or go unnoticed by adults. Caffeine-free herbal teas and glycerin-based tinctures such as chamomile, lemon balm, passionflower and lavender can be reliable double-duty allies for children, calming them while also promoting immune response.</p>
<p>Essential oils are another boon. “The benefits of using essential oils on children are immense. Many oils are safe for all age groups and can elevate mood, induce relaxation and boost natural defenses,” says holistic nurse and certified clinical aromatherapist Patricia Springer, in Mason, Ohio. Springer recommends diffusing organic lemon or orange essential oil for 30 minutes two to three times a day in the house or applying one to two drops on a cotton ball and inhaling.</p>
<p>Adding a few drops of Roman chamomile or lavender essential oil to Epsom or sea salt makes a calming, immune-boosting bath.</p>
<h3>Homeopathy</h3>
<p></p><div class="image-with-caption image-align-right">
<img alt="Rob HainerShutterstockcom" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/574393/Super-Kid-Immunity.png"><div class="small">Rob Hainer/Shutterstock.com</div>
</div>Homeopathy is a system of natural healing to which kids often respond positively. There are well-known over-the-counter remedies that treat acute conditions without side effects, but certified classical homeopath Julia Eastman, a doctor of Oriental medicine in Naples, Florida, recommends a more thorough approach.
<p>“Homeopathy can be life-changing, but it’s a system based upon the unique physical, emotional and energetic constitution of the individual. Going to a board-certified classical homeopath is the ideal route, because they can profile the child’s complete constitution, including patterns of illness and personality for the best possible result.”</p>
<p>Treating children’s illness homeopathically when symptoms arise without taking the big picture into account can sometimes cause more harm than good. “Homeopathic remedies are not preventive medicine unto themselves, but using them constitutionally can help to improve overall health, immunity included,” says Eastman, who has witnessed dangerously high fevers in infants relieved within minutes when whole-care homeopathy has been applied.</p>
<p>Health is wealth, and fortifying the next generation benefits us all.</p>
<p><br>
<em>Marlaina Donato is a freelance writer, author and multimedia artist. Connect at <a href="http://MarlainaDonato.com">MarlainaDonato.com</a>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Germs Can Be Helpful</strong></h3>
<p>Research from Professor Linda Harrison, of Charles Sturt University, in Australia, reveals that children that are exposed to other children in a daycare or school environment at an early age develop stronger immunity, even though they might sometimes get sick at the outset. According to a study in the <em>Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology</em>, daycare kids have a decreased risk of developing asthma and allergies later in life.</p>
<p>Children also benefit from getting their hands into microbe-rich soil, say Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers in a study published in <em>Science</em>. While germs can help kids build stronger immunity, common good habits like regular hand-washing curb the spread of viruses.</p>
<p><br>
<em>This article appears in the August 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:93a31f9d-e584-4fba-bffa-e47b84aa93a32019-08-16T01:12:15-04:002019-08-16T01:12:15-04:00Air Pollution Affects Teen Menstruation: Disrupts Regularity2018-06-29 12:40:51 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">P</span>olluted air raises the chances of irregular menstrual cycles among teenage girls, a new Boston University School of Medicine study reports. Studying the records of 34,832 women and linking that information with levels of pollutants when the women were 14 to 18 years old, researchers concluded that teenage girls in polluted areas have a slightly greater likelihood of menstrual irregularity and take longer to achieve regularity in high school and early adulthood. It may also put them at long-term risk of other hormone-related problems, researchers warned.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the July 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:9942b169-f4f6-4177-a531-458bd3ac43dc2019-08-16T00:18:38-04:002019-08-16T00:18:38-04:00The Joy of Dirt: Gardening Connects Kids to Nature2018-06-29 12:01:17 -0400Barbara Pleasant<p><span class="dropcap">C</span>hildren benefit from a close connection with nature, and there’s no better place to learn about plants and soil than a garden. Families don’t need lots of space, as even a small collection of potted plants holds fascination for youngsters. The first step is to understand a garden as seen by a child that may be more interested in creative play than in making things grow.</p>
<p>Whitney Cohen, education director at Life Lab, a nonprofit that promotes garden-based education in Santa Cruz, California, thinks kids benefit most from what she calls “dirt time”—spent outdoors interacting with plants, animals, soil and everything else. “When a child plants a seed, tends it over time and ultimately pulls a carrot out of the soil and eats it, they begin to know down in their bones that food comes from plants; that healthy food is delicious; and that we are part of a vast and beautiful web of life,” Cohen says.</p>
<p>This learning process may not match a parent’s idea of a lovely garden. “Children don’t make neat rows. They water leaves and flower petals rather than the roots. They accidentally step on young seedlings. Gardening with children is messy and chaotic, but there is always learning going on beneath the surface, just out of sight,” says Catherine Koons-Hubbard, nature preschool director at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing nutritious vegetables like cherry tomatoes allows kids to see, touch and possibly smash a food as they get to know it, increasing the likelihood that they will eventually eat it.</p>
<h3>Incorporate Play Spaces</h3>
<p>“Children might rather be playing than following instructions,” Koons-Hubbard counsels, but it’s easy to incorporate space for free play in the garden. Depending on a child’s imagination and which toys are used, a spot of diggable soil in the shade might morph into a dinosaur refuge, pony farm or secret place for fairies.</p>
<p>Kids are also attracted to stepping stones, which encourage hopping, stretching and even counting. Don’t be surprised if kids turn some of them into a stage or a place to stack rocks or leaves.</p>
<p>Children love mixing soil and water together into mud. When given a bucket of clay, soil and water, kids quickly discover they can use mud to paint, sculpt or make fantasy pies decorated with leaves, sticks or flowers.</p>
<p>“Playing in mud fully engages the senses, and there are studies that show it can benefit the immune system and make us happier,” says Leigh MacDonald-Rizzo, education director at the Ithaca Children’s Garden, in New York. References include the University of Bristol, UK, University of Colorado Boulder and University of California, Los Angeles.</p>
<p>“Mud isn’t anything, really, and that open-ended quality lends itself to joyously creative play that helps children develop a relationship with the natural world,” she says.</p>
<h3>Top Tools for Kids</h3>
<p>Small children notice things close to the ground, which become even more interesting when seen through a magnifying glass. Sturdy kids’ versions in bright colors are easy to find if they get misplaced outdoors.</p>
<p>Curious children love getting a close-up look at worms and other critters in the worm bin or compost pile, or the structures inside flowers. “But when we just let the children explore, they’ll find loads of intriguing objects we may never have thought of, like water caught on the fuzzy underside of a leaf, a sparkly rock or rough tree bark,” Cohen says.</p>
<p>Children love to water plants, especially during hot summer weather. Small watering cans that hold only a little water are easy for kids to handle and limit overdoing it. Water-filled spray bottles also encourage exploration while keeping kids cool.</p>
<p>Digging to discover what’s underground comes naturally to kids, and preschoolers do best with toy-size tools with short handles. Older kids can control child-size spades and rakes better than heavier adult tools.</p>
<h3>Keeping Outdoor Space Safe</h3>
<p>Remove the worry from gardening with kids by minimizing safety risks. Replace poisonous or prickly plants with vegetables, herbs or edible flowers and teach kids of all ages not to eat plants unless they have first been checked by an adult.</p>
<p>Insects can be both interesting and threatening, and flying insects often are attracted to bright colors. Dress kids in light, neutral colors to avoid unwanted attention from bugs. Avoid chemical fertilizers and sprays, and opt for organic solutions.</p>
<p><br>
<em>Barbara Pleasant has authored many green-thumb books including </em>Homegrown Pantry: Selecting the Best Varieties and Planting the Perfect Amounts for What You Want to Eat Year-Round<em>. She grows vegetables, herbs and fruits in Floyd, VA; connect at <a href="http://BarbaraPleasant.com">BarbaraPleasant.com</a>.</em></p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the July 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:021764d4-d1bc-4f1a-9fe1-0eecf4b3c09f2019-08-16T00:50:12-04:002019-08-16T00:50:12-04:00Healthy Summer Hydration: Kids Love These Homemade Drinks2018-05-31 11:42:00 -0400Judith Fertig<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>t day camp or the pool, on the playing field or in the backyard, kids can get really thirsty, especially as temperatures climb. Although filtered water is always a good choice, sugary, carbonated, artificially colored and flavored beverages can be tempting. Having homemade options ready can entice kids to stay hydrated in a healthy way.</p>
<h3>Clued-in Professionals</h3>
<p>“As a sports nutritionist and mother of active kids, I know there’s a lot of misinformation out there, and I get all kinds of questions from parents about what drinks are best for kids,” says Jackie Berning, Ph.D., a registered dietitian, sports nutrition consultant and professor of health science at the University of Colorado, in Colorado Springs. “Parents need to know that all beverages are not created equal when it comes to hydrating them. The best [healthful] beverages taste good when your child is active, so encourage their drinking more of them,” she says.</p>
<p>According to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, the recommended beverage contents for active kids during sports and other activities should contain at least 100 milligrams (mg) of sodium and at least 28 mg of potassium per eight ounces. It should be noncarbonated.</p>
<p>We asked two moms keen on nutrition how they include these elements in drinks that kids will like.</p>
<h3>Mom Picks</h3>
<p><a href="http://BabyFoode.com">Michele Olivier</a>, the mother of daughters Elliette and Parker, views herself as both a lover of food and a control freak. The Denver, Colorado, recipe blogger started off making food for her baby and toddler. As her kids grew and their nutritional needs changed, she created new recipes, including healthy sports drinks that both balance electrolytes and hydrate.</p>
<p>While Elliette loves water and has no trouble staying hydrated, Parker loves juice, so Mom had to “make something that looks like juice, but is healthy,” says Olivier. Four main ingredients are a little frozen fruit left over from breakfast smoothies, a bit of honey for sweetening, a dash of Himalayan sea salt and water, or herbal tea or coconut water. She might also add fresh mint, ginger or other natural flavorings.</p>
<p><a href="http://Mommypotamus.com">Heather Dessinger</a>, a mom of three and blogger of recipes and natural mothering tips from Santa Fe, Tennessee, makes a drink based on coconut water with lime juice, raw honey and sea salt for older kids that play soccer or other warm-weather sports. Dessinger describes herself as a researcher and healthy living DIY fan.</p>
<p>With homemade drinks, we know exactly what is—and what isn’t—in them. They can be made in batches and kept in the refrigerator. Dessinger relates, “I’ve found that when I make a batch with honey, which is naturally antimicrobial, and store it in the coldest part of the fridge, my homemade sports drink lasts for at least a week.”</p>
<p> <br>
<em><a href="http://JudithFertig.com">Judith Fertig</a> writes cookbooks plus foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>HEALTHY HYDRATING RECIPES</strong></h3>
<h3>Blackberry + Lemon + Mint Electrolyte Drink</h3>
<p><img alt="photos by Stephen Blancett" class="photo-caption" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/574861/Blackberry-Lemon-Mint-Drink.png"></p>
<p>Yields: 4 cups</p>
<p><em>4 blackberries, fresh or frozen<br>
½ lemon, juiced<br>
1 mint leaf<br>
1 Tbsp honey<br>
⅛ tsp Himalayan pink salt<br>
4 cups water, herbal iced tea or coconut water</em></p>
<p>Place all ingredients in a blender and set on high for 45 to 60 seconds or until fruit is completely puréed.</p>
<p>Add ice to a water bottle and pour electrolyte water on top to serve.</p>
<p><strong>Popsicle Option:</strong><br>
Follow the same instructions, but add an additional tablespoon of honey, and then pour the electrolyte drink into popsicle molds and freeze overnight.</p>
<p><br>
<em>Courtesy of Michele Olivier, <a href="http://Tinyurl.com/4SportsDrinks4Kids">Tinyurl.com/4SportsDrinks4Kids</a>.</em><br>
</p>
<h3>Coconut & Lime Sports Drink</h3>
<p><img alt="Coconut Lime Drink" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/574862/Coconut-Lime-Drink.png"></p>
<p>Yields: about 4½ cups of bolder taste for older kids</p>
<p><em>3 cups coconut water<br>
1 cup water or more, based on preference in strength of flavor)<br>
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (lemon is also delicious)<br>
¼ tsp Celtic sea salt or other unrefined sea salt with trace minerals<br>
2 Tbsp raw honey or maple syrup (or more to taste)<br>
Few drops of Concentrace mineral drops (optional)</em></p>
<p>Mix all ingredients together and store in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator for up to one week.</p>
<p><br>
<em>Adapted from a recipe courtesy of Heather Dessinger, <a href="http://Tinyurl.com/MoreSportsDrinks4Kids">Tinyurl.com/MoreSportsDrinks4Kids</a>.</em></p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the June 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:074d3656-694a-4b57-b920-e566d6780a2d2019-08-16T01:22:19-04:002019-08-16T01:22:19-04:00Energy Drinks Hurt Youth Health: Causes Negative Side Effects2018-05-31 11:41:47 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">M</span>ore than half of teens and young adults that have slaked their thirst with energy drinks report consequently suffering negative health consequences, reports a new study from Canada’s University of Waterloo. Of 2,055 Canadian participants between ages 12 and 24, 55.4 percent said they had negative health events afterwards. Of these, 26.5 percent trembled and felt jittery, 24.7 percent had faster heartbeats and 22.5 percent noted “jolt and crash” episodes—a spell of alertness followed by a sudden drop in energy. Another 5.1 percent experienced nausea or diarrhea and 0.2 percent, seizures. Most respondents said they drank only one or two energy drinks at a time.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the June 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:df7b18c0-5624-44ff-8baf-b8d9fd73c7312019-08-16T00:23:57-04:002019-08-16T00:23:57-04:00Eye Contact Syncs Baby and Adult Brainwaves: Supports Early Learning and Communication Skills2018-04-30 11:41:50 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">W</span>hen an adult looks into the eyes of a baby, a synchronization of brain waves occurs that could indicate an intention to communicate, concludes a Cambridge University study of 36 infants. This coordinating supports the baby’s early learning and communication skills, according to the researchers. The effect, which researchers measured via electroencephalogram (EEG)-wired skullcaps, was strongest with eye-to-eye contact and weaker when the adult’s head was turned away. The more vocalizations—little sounds—the baby made, the greater their brainwaves synchronized with the adult.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the May 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:d106711d-5732-4cfd-b9fd-f0556d164a552019-08-16T00:51:18-04:002019-08-16T00:51:18-04:00Acetaminophen Linked to Delayed Language Skills: Pain Reliever Impacts Child's Development2018-04-30 11:41:46 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">G</span>irls born to 754 Swedish mothers that used acetaminophen during pregnancy showed less ability in acquiring early language skills at 30 months of age, report Mount Sinai Health System study researchers. If the mothers took acetaminophen more than six times in early pregnancy, their daughters (but not their sons) were nearly six times more likely to have language delays than girls born to mothers that didn’t take the drug. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 65 percent of pregnant women in this country use acetaminophen, which is marketed for pain and fever relief in Tylenol and Excedrin, and included in many over-the-counter formulations such as NyQuil and Robitussin.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the May 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8e6bd71c-3ba0-4e5a-bb02-a705e4f3128d2019-08-16T00:32:53-04:002019-08-16T00:32:53-04:00Kid Talk: How to Communicate with a Child2018-04-30 11:17:26 -0400Amber Lanier Nagle<p><span class="dropcap">D</span>udley Evenson didn’t set out to devise a strategy to foster constructive, nurturing communications between parents and their offspring. Yet as she and her husband, Dean, raised their three children decades ago, timeless guiding principles emerged.</p>
<p>“We were like other parents—learning and growing along with our children,” says Evenson, a certified professional life coach, musician and co-founder of the instrumental recording label <a href="http://Soundings.com">Soundings of the Planet</a>, in Bellingham, Washington. “Then, in the early 1980s, I met Joshua Halpern, who wanted to include our perspectives and techniques in his book, <em>Children of the Dawn: Visions of the New Family</em>.”</p>
<p>So she shared her way of cultivating kind, caring and empathetic youngsters that has worked for two generations of her family: “Our role is not to impose our beliefs on children and grandchildren, but to guide and help them develop their dreams, visions, paths and passions.” Other experts agree.</p>
<p><strong>Stay Clear.</strong> Evenson contends that children are often mirrors of the surrounding moods and attitudes, so our example is paramount. “Children absorb our feelings and emotions,” says Melanie Hogin, a social worker who counsels foster families in greater Nashville.“‘Transference’ is its textbook term. Stay calm and clear when you are around children, and keep the lines of communication open.”</p>
<p><strong>Be Consistent.</strong> Evenson maintains, “Mom and Dad or the primary parental figures should try to establish a unified, mutually supportive program.”</p>
<p>“Consistency is one of the cornerstones of effective parenting,” says Dana Cooley-Keith, with 20 years of experience working with families in crisis in Northwest Georgia. “Even if it’s hard, it’s particularly important for divorced parents to be consistent and on the same page. Otherwise, it creates stress for the entire family, adding more confusion to a child’s life when the noncustodial parent allows something the custodial parent doesn’t.”</p>
<p><strong>Be positive, honest, flexible, reasonable and understanding.</strong> “It is key to explain things to children and to listen to them,” says Evenson’s daughter, Cristen Olsen, of Seattle, who raised her daughter using her family’s guiding principles, and now uses them as a nanny. “It helps them learn how to process situations and find their own resolutions to difficult problems.”</p>
<p>Olsen says she becomes a mediator when the siblings she cares for don’t agree. “We solve the problem together by hearing all sides, talking through the issues and reaching for understanding. Many times, the kids come up with their own solutions.”</p>
<p><strong>Provide meaningful boundaries and restrictions.</strong> Kids typically push to find their limits. “Establish limits and boundaries when children are young,” says Cooley-Keith. “They will be more accepting of rules if you establish them earlier, rather than later. Most often, boundaries provide security for kids.”</p>
<p><strong>Accept their point of view.</strong> Evenson always encouraged her children to voice their opinions. “This is a great point,” says Hogin. “For children to learn to have opinions and speak out, we must value what they say. We don’t have to agree with everything they say, but should listen and encourage them to find their voice and use their words.”</p>
<p><strong>Trust children.</strong> “Believe in them,” affirms Evenson. “Be on their side. Let them feel your support and love.”</p>
<p><strong>Don’t nag.</strong> “We all want children to develop their own sense of responsibility,” Olsen says. “I find making strong eye contact reinforces my words, so I don’t have to nag or repeat myself often.”</p>
<p><strong>Be available, rather than putting kids on the spot in public.</strong> “If you correct or redirect a child in front of others, they will probably be focused on being embarrassed and fail to understand the lesson or reasoning a parent is trying to project,” says Hogin. “Taking a step back and working out an issue one-on-one is usually more appropriate and effective.”</p>
<p><strong>Maintain good habits.</strong> Evenson emphasizes the character strength that comes from observing and practicing good habits and healthy lifestyles that avoids gossip and incorporates creative exploration of life. This includes “Doing everything in love,” she notes. Such all-encompassing love balances love for our own children with love for all children and respect for all life. </p>
<p><strong>Be patient with yourself.</strong> “No one is perfect,” Evenson remarks. “Just do your best. Guide, console and discipline while keeping a sense of humor.”</p>
<p><br>
<em>Connect with the freelance writer at <a href="http://AmberNagle.com">AmberNagle.com</a>.</em></p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the May 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>