Parent Source - Spring 2015

PB | Parent Source | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | Parent Source | 1

Let’s talk about it: Understanding Signs of Depression in Children

How to Make the Most, Academically, of Your Child’s Summer Break

Serving DeKalb County Spring Resource Guide for Parents

Parent Source

Best pet for your family

2 | Parent Source | Spring 2015 Spring 2015 | Parent Source | 3

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Parent Source is distributed inthe Daily Chronicle

Project Manager: Lisa Angel

Design & Layout: Allison LaPorta

We reserve the right to include and edit all editorial content of this publication.

Table of Contents 4 What parents feed baby can

have long-term impact

5 German shepherds to gerbils: How to choose the best pet for

your family

6 Teenagers want parents to be involved in their lives

7 5 tips for achieving better tech-life balance

8 Let’s talk about it: Understanding Signs of Depression in Children

10 How to Make the Most, Academically, of Your Child’s Summer Break


For parents and caregivers, Dr. Reidy has some tips to help instill healthy eating habits for young children:

Meal tiMe is gaMe tiMe

• Replace foods high in saturated fat with lean meats, low-fat dairy products and foods high in healthier fats such as avocado, fish and those made with olive, safflower and canola oils.

• Offer a variety of healthy foods, and try to set a good example by eating them yourself. If a child sees mom, dad or siblings eating a nutritious food, she may be more willing to try it.

• Milk is key in children’s diets and a top contributor of many important nutrients. Children over the age of two should be offered lower fat options such as one percent and skim instead of whole milk to limit saturated fat intake.

Don’t forget the fruits anD veggies

• Pick foods low in salt/sodium, such as fruits and vegetables instead of those high in sodium like hot dogs, chicken nuggets and dishes that contain cheese.

• Offer a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for snacks and meals; for mixed dishes, choose items with a serving of vegetables.

• If your baby or toddler resists a new fruit or vegetable, don’t fret and try again. It can take up to 10 tries before a child accepts a new food.

a healthy snack attack

• Plan ahead for healthy snacks to take on-the-go. Pack fruit and vegetable pouches for older toddlers.

• Speak with family and other caregivers about limiting sweets and choosing healthy snacks when they are caring for your child.

What parents feed baby

can have long-term impact

(BPT) - Experts agree that the food babies eat helps set the stage for growth and development, but did you know that it also impacts long-term eating habits and taste development?

Children who consumed fruits and vegetables infrequently and drank sweet drinks during late infancy showed those same habits at age six, according to new data published in the journal Pediatrics. Infants who consumed sweetened beverages more than three times a week at 10-12 months were twice as likely to be obese at age six.

These findings validate the 2008 Nestle Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS), which also found eating habits are set in early infancy and mimic unhealthy eating habits seen in older children and adults. FITS is the largest, most comprehensive dietary intake survey of over 3,300 parents and caregivers of young children. The FITS findings showed preschoolers are getting nearly one-third (400 calories) of their total daily calories from fats and added sugars, and common childhood foods such as whole milk, cheese and hot dogs are contributing to excessive saturated fat and sodium in young children’s diets.

Nutrition expert Dr. Kathleen Reidy, who heads Nutrition, Meals and Drinks at Nestle Nutrition, says, “What you feed your baby now affects them not just today, but tomorrow and beyond. The first years of a child’s life are a critical period of development, and instilling good eating habits during this time can help put a child on the path to a healthy future.”

For additional tips on providing babies and toddlers with the best nutrition and a foundation for healthy eating habits, visit www.gerber.com to learn more.

4 | Parent Source | Spring 2015


(BPT) - Whether a loyal pal like Lassie is what you’re looking for, or a Garfield-like couch potato is more your speed, a pet can make a wonderful addition to your family. But there is more to choosing a new pet than simply falling in love with a cute face. Making an informed and well-researched decision can lead to a happy home life for both you and your pet.

“One of the most important things to know is that all pets are awesome. They have the potential to be great family members,” says Tracey Kitching, veterinary technology instructor at Argosy University, Twin Cities. “It all boils down to what you want the animal for, the demands of the animal, and the husbandry and expenses associated with that animal.”

“The priority is the family needs to decide the type of time they have available for the animal,” says Paula Lind, department director of Veterinary Technology at Argosy University, Twin Cities. “The family also needs to look at its capability to provide the appropriate exercise, living quarters and temperament. Sometimes people are mismatched with the animals they choose, and shelters are filled with young dogs that did nothing wrong. They were just a poor match for their owners.”

The energy of the animal is an important factor to consider. “For any species, understanding how much energy that animal has is important,” says Kitching. For example, a border collie wouldn’t be good for people working 16 hours a day, while great Danes tend to make great apartment dogs since they generally lay around a lot. Your family must be able to meet the energy needs of the animal.

Lind says that if you work long hours, a cat would be a better choice than a dog, but it’s important to remember that cats also need companionship. For families that aren’t home much, a fish, hamster, gerbil, rat or ferret would be better choices, says Lind. Puppies will require exercise and obedience training, which will require more time than an older dog or other types of animals.

Temperament is another key area, especially when looking at breeds of dogs. People often look at puppies as the ideal dog for their small children, but Lind says this isn’t the case. She wouldn’t recommend a puppy for children younger than 5, and adds that the puppy cowering in the back of the litter is the worst to pick for children.

The cost of owning a pet goes beyond the initial purchase of the animal. Kitching says an animal like a hamster will require an initial purchase of a cage, wheel and food, while a dog will require a collar, leash, obedience lessons, a kennel and food, among other things. The amount an animal eats will also greatly affect the cost of ownership.

All animals should be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. “A relationship with a veterinarian is just as profound as a relationship with a lawyer or regular doctor,” says Kitching.

Don’t forget to look at the health of your own family. If you have individuals with allergies, certain breeds and species of animals are better. There are even dogs that are hypo-allergenic. Lind says to think about how clean you want your home if you are bothered by cat or dog hair. You can’t confine an animal to a mud room or basement.

Before deciding on any pet, research is key. “The biggest thing is you have to do your research and think about the needs of the animal. It’s not about you, it’s about the animal,” says Lind. “It’s going to need your time, love and attention.” For dogs, talk with breeders, people who own that breed, and research breeds on sites like the American Kennel Club website, which contains info on all breeds of dogs. If you’re adopting an animal, Lind says many rescue groups and shelters do an excellent job of assessing temperament. These shelters will know if an animal is good with children and other animals.

How to choose the best pet for

your family

German shepherds

to gerbils

German shepherds

to gerbils


(BPT) - Today’s changing social environment and confusing messages about drugs and alcohol may be making it even more difficult for teenagers to get their bearings as they move toward adulthood. That is why it is more important than ever for parents to know what is going on in their kids’ lives and have the skills to respond to their teens appropriately.

Specifically, as drugs and alcohol are becoming more accessible and more states are legalizing marijuana, many teens may believe that the use of marijuana or other substances is now okay. Parents should know that legalization of marijuana does not mean it is harmless, and increased availability of other substances does not make them less harmful, either. Marijuana and other substances can cause permanent damage to the teenage brain, and teens can become addicted more quickly than adults.

This is a time when parents need to become involved in their teens’ lives and help them navigate these complex issues. While many parents may think of their teens as grown-ups and able to fully take care of themselves, teenagers have said that this is a time when they need their parents the most. Asking questions and being involved shows teenagers that their parents care.

“Even though teens may sometimes indicate otherwise, through my experience as a psychiatrist to teenagers, I have found that most of them want their parents involved in their lives to provide guidance and support,” says Dr. Thomas Wright, chief medical officer at Rosecrance, one of the country’s leading teen substance abuse treatment centers. “Teens want their parents to actively parent them and provide them guidance they need, including direction around substances.”

Studies have shown that parents who play an active role in the lives of their teens can positively impact their children’s behavior and influence them to cease or abstain from ever using substances. In contrast, research shows that teens whose parents expect them to engage in risky behaviors such as drinking and using drugs are more likely to do so.

“It is critical that parents understand their role and take conscious measures to support their teens in living a healthy and happy life,” Wright says. “Parents should ask what their teens are doing, address the pressures they are facing, act immediately when they suspect their teen is in trouble, and advocate for help if their teen needs it to help them live a healthy life.”

Starting a conversation with a teen about substances can be daunting. It can be even more overwhelming for a parent when their teenage child approaches them with questions before they have had a chance to prepare.

want parents to be involved Teenagers

in their lives


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Is your device your vice? Americans think they are able to easily balance their technology use with their regular activities, but when the numbers are crunched, perception doesn’t match up with reality.

One in four Americans report they get stressed out when they’re away from their email or phone for longer than 30 minutes, according to a survey conducted by GMI and commissioned by Crucial.com. And 84 percent of male respondents admitted to checking a mobile device while driving, in a movie theater, at a funeral or at a child’s play or recital.

Technology overuse is making many Americans feel guilty about the amount of time they spend digitally connected. Life balance expert, Mary LoVerde, author of “Stop Screaming at the Microwave” and “I Used To Have A Handle On Life But It Broke,” provides the following tips on how you can reconnect with your friends and family, and help balance your use of technology.

establish personal tech-life balance policies.Take a look at what you value and set some policies to help you stay connected to what’s most important. For example, everyone values family time, but it is not always prioritized. You might make a family policy that limits technology at the dinner table, after 9 p.m. or while your children complete their homework. Maybe you and your partner agree to shut off technology for an hour before bed to give attention to each other.

You no doubt value your safety and the safety of those around you. So make a strict policy that texting and driving is an unacceptable practice, and then stick to it. Announce to others out loud what your policies are. A clear and public declaration can lead to peer pressure, which can help ensure that you stay true to your promises.

MaxiMize your Devices’ efficiency.Waiting for programs to load can be a frustrating time-waster so make your devices as user-friendly as possible. The speed and amount of memory you’ve got installed helps determine how fast applications are able to operate. Upgrading your system’s memory and software and closing the apps you are not using are simple low-cost ways to help your technology help you.

pick sleep over technology.Checking Instagram, e-mail, or LinkedIn cannot compete with the benefit of a half hour more sleep each night. In many ways, your brain is a computer, too. At night this neurological PC repairs genes, secretes many regulatory hormones (including the one that makes you lose weight), conjures up the necessary dreams that keep you sane and stores information you learned that day - to note just a few of the many things it does to reset your body. Given the choice between technology and sleep, opt to get some more shuteye.

look up.Seriously, every once in a while just look up and see what is going on in the real world all around you. Make eye contact. Smile at someone. Breathe deeply. Pay attention to the world. There is magic out there that you are missing.

stop taking yourself so seriously.We need to understand that when we let go of some of our technology, other ideas will come into clearer focus. We have to believe that Chicken Little’s sky will not fall if we log off for an hour. If we miss a selfie, a posting, or a call, the planets will remain in orbit and in the meantime, if we are lucky, we will have reconnected with our humanness in a meaningful way.

5 tips FoR achieving betteR tech-liFe balance


Let’s Talk About It

Understanding Signs of Depression in Children

Mental health conditions such as depression account for nearly half of all disabilities among young people between the ages of 10 and 24, according to a new study from the World Health Organization. According to the study, among adolescents and young adults, 45 percent of disabilities were related to depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders, including alcohol abuse.

Mental disorders in children are just as real, common and treatable as they are in adults. Left untreated, children’s mental health disorders can lead to problems at home, trouble in school and in the community, substance abuse and even suicide.

Everyone gets down from time to time, but sometimes it’s more than just “the blues.” Sometimes, it can be clinical depression. Clinical depression affects more than 19 million Americans each year. It is a real illness that can be treated effectively. Unfortunately, fewer than half of the people who have this illness seek treatment. Too many people believe that it is a “normal” part of life and that they can treat it themselves. Left untreated, depression poses a huge burden on children and families.

Know the signsThe signs and symptoms of clinical depression are:

• Persistentsad,anxiousor“empty”mood• Changesinsleeppatterns• Reducedappetiteandweightloss,orincreased

appetite and weight gain• Lossofpleasureand interest inonce-enjoyable

activities, including sex• Restlessness,irritability• Persistentphysicalsymptomsthatdonotrespond

to treatment, such as chronic pain or digestive disorders

• Difficulty concentrating at work or at school,or difficulty remembering things or making decisions

• Fatigueorlossofenergy• Feelingguilty,hopelessorworthless• Thoughtsofsuicideordeath

If your child is experiencing five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, he could have clinical depression. See our Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist or one of our qualified mental health professionals for help, right away.

If you or a young adult you know is experiencing a mental

Mental Illness Leading Cause of Disability in Young People:

World Health Organization


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Serving DeKalb County Spring Resource Guide for Parents

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WRitingTo help writing skills, encourage your child to start a diary or write letters to a grandparent or friend. If you are traveling on a vacation, ask your child to keep a travel journal recording where you stayed and what you did. At the end of every day, talk through the activities with your child and help him or her with a journal. It not only improves writing skills, but also creates great family memories.

MatheMatics Helping mom or dad with grocery shopping develops opportunities to use math skills, such as making change, weighing fruits and vegetables, etc. Providing assistance with cooking can also familiarize children with weights and measures, organization and planning and following a recipe. Perhaps you and your children could make a special dessert for the whole family. Help children pick a recipe, create an ingredients list and go shopping together.

ReaDingYou can’t start too early. You can’t read too much. Reading to young children nurtures an interest in language, words and communication. For older kids, reading together can be fun and interesting. Children also learn by example. If parents are setting time aside to read, it reinforces the fun and enjoyment of reading. Local libraries offer infinite resources for children. Librarians can recommend books appropriate for your child’s reading level and interests, and many libraries offer free children’s programs and clubs.

ReseaRchThere are an abundance of sites that provide summer reading lists for children. At www.BookAdventure.com, children (grades K-8) create personalized books lists from more than 7,500 recommended titles, take quizzes on the books they’ve read at school or at home, and earn points towards prizes for their reading comprehension. The program is designed to motivate students to read more often, for longer periods of time and with greater understanding.

Does Your Child Forget Everything He Learned in School, Once Break Arrives?

How to Make the Most, Academically,

of Your Child’s Summer Break

Within 24 to 48 hours after learning new concepts, students often begin to

forget information unless it is reinforced or applied immediately. That’s why,

during summer break, even the best students forget

lessons they have learned during the school year.

While a break from school is great for recharging your

children’s batteries, if students aren’t using the skills they acquired in the classroom, they could find themselves

lagging behind once the school bell rings again. The education experts at Sylvan

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offer recommendations to inspire academic discovery

when away from the classroom.


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analysis anD logicMany family games and puzzles are not only fun, but help children to develop and reinforce skills. A simple card game can involve mathematics, analysis and logical thinking. Be sure to select games appropriate for your child’s age level.

suMMeR enRichMent pRogRaMsThere are many enrichment activities available for children when school is out-of-session. Sylvan Learning offers engaging programs that keep the interest and fun in learning alive through the summer and into the school year. Visit www.SylvanLearning.com for additional information. Check out our newest STEM camps!!

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Parent Source - Spring 2015