As the weather gets warmer and we spend more time outdoors in the sun, it’s easy to overlook the potential harm it can cause our skin, especially in children. Young skin’s delicate and sensitive nature makes it more susceptible to the adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays. These effects include not only the immediate discomfort of sunburns but also long-term damage, such as premature aging of the skin and an increased risk of skin cancer later in life. Recognizing the importance of sun safety is the first step in safeguarding your child’s health and ensuring they can enjoy the outdoors safely.

Best Practices for Sun Safety

1. Understanding Sunscreen

Choosing and using sunscreen correctly is paramount in protecting children from the sun’s harmful rays. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the radiation that causes sunburn and contributes to skin cancer. For children, dermatologists recommend using broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects against water-resistant UVA and UVB rays, with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Application is just as important as selection. A good rule of thumb is to use about one ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) to cover an average child’s arms, legs, neck, and face. Remember, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or more frequently if your child is swimming or sweating.

2. The Role of Protective Clothing

While sunscreen plays a critical role in sun protection, it should not be your only line of defense. Clothing can be a physical barrier between your child’s skin and the sun. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats can cover most skin and offer significant protection. The effectiveness of this clothing can be enhanced by choosing items with a high Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating, which indicates how much UV radiation can penetrate the fabric.

For the best protection, select clothes that cover more skin, are dark-colored, and are made of tightly woven fabric. Remember, a wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, so consider UV-protective swimwear for water activities.

3. Additional Sun Safety Tips

Implementing additional sun safety habits can further reduce your child’s risk of sun damage. Encourage playing in the shade, especially during the sun’s peak hours between 10 AM and 4 PM. Sunglasses with UV protection are also important for shielding your child’s eyes from harmful rays.

Instilling these habits early on protects your child and sets them up for a lifetime of healthy skin care practices.

Closing Thoughts: Nurturing a Sun-Safe Generation

Embracing sun safety is more than a series of actions; it’s a commitment to nurturing a healthier, more informed generation. By equipping ourselves with the knowledge of how to effectively protect our children from the sun’s rays, we do more than prevent sunburns and skin damage; we instill lifelong habits that prioritize skin health and awareness.

Through careful selection and application of sunscreen, thoughtful use of protective clothing, and adherence to sun-safe practices, we can provide our children with the tools they need to enjoy the outdoors while minimizing their risk of skin-related health issues.

Let this be our legacy: a sun-safe generation that grows up understanding the balance between enjoying the warmth of the sun and protecting the skin they’re in. Here’s to countless joyous, sunny days ahead, spent wisely under the protective umbrella of sun safety.

At Community Choice Pediatrics, we prioritize the health and joy of your children’s outdoor experiences. Our team is ready to assist with advice on sunscreen, protective clothing, or any other concerns.

Visit our website to schedule a consultation and ensure your little ones are well-protected for fun in the sun. Let’s keep those bright smiles safe and healthy together.

The post Sun Safety for Kids: Protecting Your Child’s Skin appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

Let’s discuss some ways you can help get your child ready for kindergarten.

Establish Routines Early

Kindergarten is all about routines, and you’ll help your child get a head start on a daily schedule by implementing one before he steps into the classroom. That means regular times to wake up, go to sleep, eat meals, and take baths. Additionally, encourage them to engage with the routines by being enthusiastic and communicating expectations. Perhaps one of your routines is a bedtime ritual of bathing, brushing teeth, and reading. Or it could be a mealtime tradition of washing up before joining together as a family at the dining table with everyone logging off their devices.

Encourage Play

To a growing mind, play is essential. It not only helps your child develop normally, but it also provides him with the skills he’ll need in life. Through solo play, he’ll become creative and find things to occupy his time. Playing with friends teaches children how to share, take turns, and work together, vital social skills they’ll need in life. And playing with you and other adults helps your son or daughter mirror how to collaborate and communicate emotions such as frustration, sadness, and happiness—all emotions they’ll need to master as they get ready for kindergarten.

Foster Independence

When your child starts kindergarten, she’ll no longer have you around to help with every little thing. While she won’t be expected to be self-sufficient immediately, she will need to put on and take off her coat and snow boots, use the restroom independently, and get into her lunch and put things away after she’s eaten. Help her become more independent now, which will help her tremendously when she’s off to school.

Discuss What to Expect

Your little one may have questions about what kindergarten will be like. That’s good, and you’ll want to open a dialogue with him and talk through what to expect. Share your experiences and memories from your school days and involve him in choosing a backpack, lunch bag, and school supplies. Talk about his first day and some of the things that might happen, as well as the opportunity he’ll have to make new friends.

The more you can illuminate what your child will expect at school, the easier it will be for him to get mentally ready for kindergarten.

Work on School Skills

Your child will be much more confident at school when she knows what to expect and has skills on par with her classmates. That includes basic foundations in reading, recognizing letters and numbers, math, and fine-motor skills. Incorporate learning activities into your everyday schedule, such as writing, cutting, coloring, drawing, building, reading, letter and word recognition, and counting. This should feel less like learning and more like a game and playing. By keeping him active and learning, you’ll not only foster a lifelong love of it but also boost his confidence about his skills as he sits down with his peers.

Schedule a Pediatric Check-up

Most schools require updated immunization records and a physical, so late summer is a great time to get that scheduled. Your pediatrician will also do an assessment to determine your child’s school readiness, and if your child has been with the same doctor since birth, he or she will be aware of any challenges they may face and help provide you with resources they may need to get ready for kindergarten.

Community Choice Pediatrics Helps Your Child Get Ready for Kindergarten

Preparing your child for kindergarten is a journey that requires time, patience, and support. By focusing on the skills they’ll need to master, as well as getting them emotionally ready, you’ll create a smooth transition to this new phase. As a parent, your job is to be present, enthusiastic, and supportive. The first day of kindergarten is an important milestone that marks the beginning of a lifelong love for learning and growth.

Community Choice Pediatrics is here to answer your questions about kindergarten readiness. Contact us to schedule your appointment.

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From a baby’s first ride home from the hospital, his car seat is an integral component in his everyday life. But the proper use of that car seat can be confusing, especially for new parents. And with more than 60,000 children injured in car accidents each year, it’s imperative that parents understand and follow proper car seat safety guidelines.

Choose the Right Car Seat

Selecting an appropriate car seat for your child’s age, weight, and height is the foundation of car seat safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created a simple online tool to help you choose the right size based on your child’s age, height, and weight. As NHTSA points out, in passenger cars, properly chosen and installed car seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries 71%, so it’s clear that the right seat makes all the difference.

Correctly Install the Car Seat

Proper installation of car seats is crucial to ensure maximum safety. And the way they are installed in one vehicle is not necessarily the same with another, so if you are moving your child’s car seat between parents and/or caregivers, make sure it is secured each and every time.

A child’s car seat always goes in the backseat of the car. It can be directly behind the driver or passenger seat, and in some cars, it can also fit in the middle. Follow the directions as outlined by the car seat manufacturer as well as your vehicle owner’s manual. Missouri offers several locations where parents and caregivers can check the installation of their car seat. Review the list to find a location closest to you.

When to Change Car Seats

Depending on the model of car seat you purchase, you may have to change each time your child grows into the next category. You can also purchase a seat that transitions with your child, such as an all-in-one seat. Generally speaking, the types of car seats you’ll need include:

• Rear facing: infants to approximately age two
• Forward facing: toddlers and preschoolers
• Booster seat: school-aged children

NHTSA outlines every type of seat, as well as provides instructions on how to install them.

General Car Seat Safety Notes

If you are ever involved in a moderate to severe car accident, you will want to replace your child’s car seat following the accident. This is true whether or not your child was in the car seat at the time of the accident. The issue is one of integrity of the seat.

It’s not advised to allow children to wear bulky coats or jackets when in a car seat. That is because the extra clothing can create a gap between the harness and the child’s body, which may compromise the effectiveness of the restraint system.

In warm weather, remember that the metal buckles on a car seat can become quite hot, even to the point of burning a child’s skin. Many retailers sell car seat cooling pads, which can be placed on the seat to cool it down when your child is not in the car. If you’re a DIYer, you can make your own with everyday materials you probably already have in your house.

Trust Community Choice with Your Child’s Safety

As parents ourselves, we know how important it is to keep kids safe in the car. Car seat safety is something you may not have thought about before having children, but it should be top of mind now. If you have questions about how to keep your children safe and healthy, contact us. We’re always here to help.

The post The Vital Importance of Car Seat Safety: Protecting Our Most Precious Passengers appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

The Risks of Sun Exposure—Today and Tomorrow

The goal of protecting your child from the sun is to avoid potential sunburns. Not only are they painful today, but their effects can be felt far into the future. That’s because of the damage to the skin caused by the sun’s harmful rays. In most cases, you don’t see the pink (or red) of the burn until after sun damage has occurred. And did you know that a minor burn is considered a first-degree burn, while prolonged sun exposure can result in a second-degree burn? The latter presents itself with bubbles and peeling.

The more sunburns incurred during childhood, the higher the chance of having skin cancer in the affected areas as an adult. Plus, a child’s skin is more sensitive than an adult’s, which means she can burn faster and more easily than you can. Too much exposure to the sun—and accompanying sunburns—can result in issues other than skin cancer, including premature aging and sunspots.

The Importance of Sunscreen Usage in Children

Before you send your child out to play on a beautiful summer day, be sure to lather him up with sunscreen. Look for a broad-spectrum option that has an SPF of 30 or higher. Broad-spectrum provides comprehensive protection against UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate to the deep layers of the skin, leading to skin damage in the future, whereas UVB rays reach the top skin layers and result in that immediate sunburn. Since most kids are active, in and out of water, and sweating, opt for a water-resistant sunscreen.

Remember to protect kids’ lips as well, which can get chapped and burned by the sun. There are several options for lip balms with added SPF, a good addition to your pre-play sunscreen routine.

Best Tips for Applying Sunscreen

Until your child gets the hang of putting on sunscreen correctly, be sure to supervise and provide direction. There is a right way and a wrong way to administer sunscreen usage in children. Follow these suggestions for applying sunscreen:

1. Use it generously and cover all exposed areas of the skin. This can include the obvious—face, arms, and legs—but remember to apply sunscreen on the ears, back of the neck, and top of the feet as well.
2. Sunscreen usage in children is most effective when applied prior to heading outside. Read the label on your bottle and you’ll find that most suggest applying 15–30 minutes before heading out to ensure the sunscreen is properly absorbed.
3. Reapply regularly. This includes after swimming and when the child is sweating excessively. When your child comes inside for a drink of water, it’s time to reapply sunscreen.
4. Don’t limit sunscreen usage in children to sunny days. The sun’s rays can be harmful even on cloudy days, and when reflected off the snow, they can burn even faster. Make a habit of using sunscreen year-round.

Lead by Example

Our children are sponges, and they love to mimic what Mom and Dad do. Show your child that you are putting on sunscreen before you go out. Not only will this help them learn to be responsible about sun protection, but it will help you as well! Moms, consider face lotion and foundation with added SPF and let your kiddos know that you base your purchases on whether the product includes sun protection.

Protection Beyond Sunscreen

Sunscreen usage in children is key to good protection from harmful UV rays, but it’s not the only way to ward off sunburn and skin damage. In addition to a regular routine of applying sunscreen, include other protective measures, such as wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and lightweight clothing (some of which comes with UV protection!). It’s best to avoid playing out in the full sun when it’s at its peak, typically between 10 am and 4 pm in the US. If you must be outside then, take regular breaks from the sun and be sure to cover up.

We Care About Your Children’s Skin

At Community Choice Pediatrics, we are dedicated to the well-being of your children. If you have any questions or concerns about sunscreen usage in children or any other pediatric-related topics, we’re here for you. Together, we can create a safe and healthy environment for your little ones to thrive.

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Why Bicycle Safety Is So Important

Each year, nearly 300,000 children visit the emergency rooms of hospitals in the US due to injuries sustained while bike riding. That’s not a big number—until you think about the fact that your child could be one of them. Of that 300,000, approximately 10,000 are admitted to the hospital.

There are some things you can do as a parent to stress the importance of bicycle safety to your children. We’re going to break it down for you so you know exactly what you can do to keep your kids safe.

Wear a Helmet Every Ride

The most important equipment needed for a safe bike ride is a helmet. Your child should wear her helmet every time she gets on her bicycle, no matter where she’s going or how long or short the ride will be. Unfortunately, most people are unclear about how to size bike helmets and even how to wear them properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an excellent PDF that you can download to ensure your child is wearing a well-fitting helmet.

Check your child’s helmet before each ride until you’re sure he’s comfortable wearing it correctly on his own. Be sure to replace the helmet as your child grows and when it’s involved in a crash. Even if the crash is minimal and the helmet doesn’t appear damaged, its integrity may decline. Better safe than sorry.

Dress in the Right Gear

Any time you or your child is out on streets and paths, it’s vital that you can be seen by cars passing by. One of the keys to bicycle safety is wearing brightly colored clothes. That might just mean a white or yellow top. Avoid dark colors while riding on a bike, especially at night.

In addition to being seen, your child should wear clothes that won’t get caught up in the bicycle chains. Be wary of loose shoelaces, skirts, or long, flowing pants. And make sure your child wears sturdy shoes when riding, such as sneakers. Flip-flops and sandals can fall off and not provide the good grip they need on the pedals.

Talk about the Rules of the Road

If your child is younger, you’ll probably be riding with him most of the time. He may also go riding on trails away from traffic. But as children grow, so does their independence. That’s why you need to share with them the rules of bicycle safety. If your child’s school or community center offers a bike safety course, that’s a great way to get her acclimated to the rules.

To get your child ready to ride on the road, start talking to her about safe driving habits when you travel in the car. Remind her that a bicycle follows many of the rules that cars do, including:

• Riding on the right side of the road
• Obeying traffic signs and signals
• Yielding to people and cars
• Not driving distracted, such as while texting, eating, or drinking

NHTSA highlights many of the bicycle safety rules you can discuss with your child and is a great way to start the conversation.

Community Choice Pediatrics Cares About Bicycle Safety—and Your Kids

Bicycle safety should be important to all of us, whether we have children or not. At Community Choice Pediatrics, we want kids to be happy and healthy, so keeping them safe on their bikes is near and dear to our hearts. As the weather warms and kids are outside more, we encourage you to talk to your kids about the importance of bicycle safety and the little repeatable things you can do together to have fun and stay safe.

And if you’re looking for a pediatrician for well-child visits or to help you through any bumps in the road (on a bike or off!), contact us. We’re eager to meet you!

The post The Importance of Bicycle Safety for Kids appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

Allergies

Seasonal allergies are typically the culprit when we discuss “allergies,” especially as the snow melts, temperatures increase, and flowers start to bloom. The reason your child’s nose runs and he starts sneezing is because his immune system is kicking in to fight off these common allergens. What’s really happening is that the body is creating histamines, chemicals that are released in response to something that’s irritating the body. That could be pollen, pet dander, or dust, among other things. You cannot “catch” allergies

Seasonal allergies typically last a few weeks and taper off as plants stop blooming and pollen stops blowing. Allergies can be treated by over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, nasal decongestants, nasal rinses, and decongestants. In severe cases, your pediatrician may need to prescribe a steroid nasal spray or injections.

Colds

A cold is caused by a virus and not by pollen or any of the other things that bloom during the spring. Colds are passed between people through secretion of bodily fluids. With little kids, this usually occurs after they wipe their nose and touch a surface or toy that another child picks up. Kids can also catch a cold by being in close proximity to others who sneeze or cough on them.

Being that it is a virus, a cold cannot be treated the same way as a bacterial infection. With a cold, you’re treating the symptoms—instead of the cause—through rest, increased liquids, analgesics (painkillers), and decongestants, depending on how the cold presents itself. Of course, a child with a cold is at risk of spreading it to friends and family, which is why most sick kids are urged to stay home during the first few days of symptoms.

Treating Allergies or a Cold

Naturally, if your child isn’t feeling well, you may want to make a visit to the pediatrician. After all, it’s better to be safe and ensure your little one’s (even if he’s a teenager!) wellbeing. Before administering treatment, the pediatrician needs to first determine if it is allergies or a cold. Be sure to share all the symptoms you’re seeing. A temperature is a great indicator: allergies are rarely accompanied by a fever, whereas a cold may be. If your child does have a fever, be sure to touch base with your pediatrician to see if you should schedule an office visit.

Once a diagnosis is made, the doctor can work with you to determine next steps. That might be as simple as suggesting an OTC medicine or something more long-term, such as regular allergy shots. But until you know if it’s allergies or a cold, you’ll be stumped.

Put Community Choice Pediatrics On Your Team

No matter whether it’s allergies or a cold, having a trusted pediatrician to call and ask questions is key. At Community Choice Pediatrics, we love seeing your children, and we are just as eager as you are to get them feeling better as soon as possible. If you’re looking for a new pediatrician, schedule an appointment online. We’ll be happy to visit with you, even if it’s just to provide some peace of mind.

The post How Can You Tell If Your Child Has Allergies or a Cold? appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

There are plenty of opinions when it comes to screen time, but most professionals concur that there are plenty of negatives to spending too much time in front of a phone, tablet, computer, or TV. There are also some benefits.

The Issues with Screen Time

No matter how old a person is—from infancy to old age—too much of anything is often just too much. Such is the case with screen time. Sitting in front of the TV or playing games on an iPad means you’re not walking or playing, and that can lead to obesity. Attention spans are tested by spending a lot of time in front of a screen. And we’ve all heard what blue light can do to our ability to fall asleep and get restful sleep.

That’s not all, though. An overabundance of screen time can lead to cognitive issues as well. Harvard Medical School reports that digital play can lead to “impoverished” brain development. When kids aren’t bored, they don’t think on their own; serving them up an endless menu of activities means their brains aren’t stretched to create. The immediate reward of staring at screens all day can, at its worst, lead to addiction issues and an obsession with devices.

How Much Is Too Much?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children younger than two years of age should not have access to screens at all. They further encourage parents to limit the screen time of older children to one to two hours a day. Is that practical? Some parents may say absolutely, while others will argue that their children are learning from TV or an iPad. Still others may need the quiet that comes from distracting a child with a phone or other screen.

Remember that screen time isn’t really good for any of us—regardless of our age. While many adults spend their working hours in front of a computer, Reid Health reports that no more than two hours outside of work should be spent in front of a TV, phone, computer, or tablet.

To put that into perspective, adults currently spend an average of 11 hours per day in front of a screen, and that number skyrocketed to 19 hours during the pandemic lockdown. Children aged 8 to 18, as reported by the CDC, average 7.5 hours of each day in front of a screen, and nearly half of that is TV time. For the younger crowd, Common Sense Media tallied 49 minutes a day for infants to age two, 2.5 hours for children aged two to four, and a little more than three hours for those aged five to eight.

Benefits of Screen Time

With all this negativity surrounding the topic, experts agree screen time is not all bad. Even infants can interact through video calls with family, which became the norm during lockdowns. Likewise, virtual learning was a regular occurrence throughout 2020 and 2021, which helped many children stay on track while they were home.

There are other potential benefits of screen time for children, according to Parents. Interacting with others can improve socialization, some games teach critical-thinking skills, educational games and ebooks may help with school readiness in younger children, and hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills are part and parcel of pushing those little buttons.

Committed to Your Children’s Wellbeing

We all know that life happens but being mindful about the amount of screen time your children are exposed to can only benefit them—and you. When you put down the devices and turn off the TV, you build relationships, communicate more, and try something new. You can take a walk together, go for a bike ride, or roast marshmallows in the backyard. Instead of watching others, why not experience those adventures yourselves?

Community Choice Pediatrics is committed to helping your children grow up healthy and happy. If we can answer your questions about screen time or become your trusted pediatrician, we’re here for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.

The post Screen Time and Children: What’s the Best Approach? appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

Dress Kids Warmly

While your children may say that they’re fine in shorts and flip-flops year-round, you know better. It’s true that they may not feel as cold as Mom and Dad, and that’s because of the “brown fat” they carry, which keeps them warmer. Also, children tend to move around a lot outside, which can help elevate their temperature. But don’t let that fool you; they still need to dress warmly outside, no matter what activity they’re enjoying.

The best way to keep kids warm in freezing temperatures is with layers. Long underwear, sweaters, and coats are common winter wear, and when you layer them on before kids leave to head outside, you’re ensuring they have everything they need to combat the chill. Then, if need be, they can take off a layer or two. Be sure those layers include thick socks (or even two pairs), snow boots, waterproof gloves or mittens, and a hat that covers their ears.

While you might not think of winter clothes as a danger, when considering cold weather safety for children, you need to look at potential obstacles. Loose ties, for example, can get caught on the playground. Just do a quick check for any obstacles before letting them go.

What to Do When Kids Get Too Cold

Even with that layer of brown fat to protect them and layers of clothes, kids are not impervious to the cold. And too often, they don’t even notice how cold they are. After all, if they’re having fun ice skating, skiing, making a snowman, or ice fishing, they’re going to be much more focused on that activity than on getting warm.

There are two major issues that can occur when a child is exposed to the cold for too long: hypothermia and frostbite.

Hypothermia creates a lower body temperature due to overexposure to the cold. If your child cannot seem to get warm, take their temperature. If it registers at 95ºF or lower, they need immediate care; take them to the emergency room right away.

Frostbite occurs when a particular body part freezes. This most often happens in the extremities: toes, fingers, and feet. Symptoms include loss of color and feeling in the frozen areas. Frostbite is apt to coexist with hypothermia, meaning if you cannot get the area warm and back to normal in short order, your cold weather safety for children protocol requires immediate medical attention.

Ensure Cold Weather Safety for Children

In addition to layering up before sending your kids outside, there are other things you can do to keep them safe. These include:

Make them take regular breaks.

Kids who are having fun in the snow won’t come in on their own, so it’s up to you to make them. Pull them inside for 10–15 minutes every one to two hours, depending on how cold it is. While they’re inside, have them take off their layers and drink or eat something warm. What kid wouldn’t want to come inside for a warm cup of cocoa? Once their faces are no longer red and cold, they can venture back out.

Keep them hydrated.

Even when it’s cold outside, our bodies still need to be regularly hydrated. Cocoa is nice and all, but good-old water is the best option for hydration. Since the kids are likely expending energy outside, they need to replenish what they’re losing. Arm them with a bottle of water and encourage them to drink regularly.

Liberally apply sunscreen.

Even on a cloudy winter day, to ensure cold weather safety for children, be sure they have on sunscreen. The sun reflects off snow, making it even harsher on their exposed skin. And while you’re at it, keep on the lookout for windburn, which can be just as painful for little ones. Sunscreen and a warm scarf should do the trick.

Keep Your Children Safe This Winter

Community Choice Pediatrics always has your children’s welfare in mind, whether we’re providing cold weather safety tips or an annual check-up. If you’re in the market for a caring pediatrician, check us out. We’d love to support your children and family.

The post Cold Weather Safety for Children appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

The Internet Is Forever

Perhaps one of the most important privacy issues your children need to understand about social media is that what they think is private isn’t always. Digital permanence is the technical term for information that lives online forever. Once something is uploaded—even on a site such as Snapchat, which is designed to delete content after a certain time period—it can be copied, downloaded, or found again at a future date.

When your child is starting to get involved in online endeavors, whether on a social media platform or a blog, talk to them about social media safety. Tell them to check their privacy settings and make everything private to only them and those with whom they are connected. The easiest way to accomplish this is to Google “privacy settings” plus the platform of choice. These can be changed on the app or computer. Remember that many platforms default to making everything public, so this is an important first step.

After privacy settings are enabled, reiterate how important it is to monitor what is shared on social media. If your child wouldn’t want you to see what they post, they’re better off not posting it online.

Consider Connections

Some people approach social media with a mindset of connecting with anyone who requests it. Others prefer to keep their online network limited. There’s no right or wrong way to approach this situation, but for social media safety, help your children understand that the people they’re connected to will be able to see everything they post. On some platforms, connections of connections can also see your posts.

Just as privacy settings help to limit an online audience, keeping connections to a minimum also limits who sees the information your children share. Remind your children that social media safety means only accepting connection requests from trusted family and friends, as well as reviewing connections regularly to ensure the right people are in their networks.

Avoid Sharing Anything Too Personal

While your children may think that it’s fine to share on social media the fact that they’ll be going out of town, that’s the kind of thing people look for. Even someone your kids consider to be a friend could take advantage of the fact that “my parents are gone” to suggest a party in their absence.

And it’s not just kids who forget not to share personal information online. Adults can get excited about vacation plans and let everyone know they’re heading out of town. Of course, that means their houses will be empty, which invites trouble.

Caution your children that, for their social media safety, they should avoid sharing personal information such as travel plans, address, phone number, or school location. Social media is built to tag locations, and we all tend to do it, so keep reminding them. And be a good role model by sharing with your children the things you’re posting and how you’re being aware of your own social media safety. That’s not to say they can’t share pictures of things that happened at school or on vacation; just don’t say which school or when they’re away from home.

Social Media Safety Is Important for Everyone

With initial and ongoing education about the importance of social media safety, parents can instill smart habits in their children. The internet is not going away, and it gets easier every day to share information online. But with practice and reminders, you and your children can share with the right people the things that are important to them and protect their privacy.

In addition to caring about your children’s wellbeing, Community Choice Pediatrics helps protect your children’s health. Our clinics are always accepting new patients. Learn more and schedule your appointment here.

The post Talking to Your Kids About Social Media Safety appeared first on Community Choice Pediatrics.

Here are some of our favorite coping skills to use with your teenager, no matter the situation.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

There’s a reason that talk therapy is so popular: it works. Talking it out can be a huge benefit for a teenager who can often feel as if they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. The way to be successful when communicating with your teens is to provide a judgment-free zone where they feel comfortable sharing their feelings without fear of repercussions. Even if their concerns seem trivial to you, they can feel like the end of the world to them, so be open and empathetic. Encourage your teenager to share and avoid jumping in with solutions; sometimes, just getting it off their chest is enough to help them feel better.

Break the Routine

Some teen coping skills may feel like avoiding the issue but breaking the routine could also be the best reset for a young person. If they’re struggling with a homework assignment, maybe a brief outing is the solution. A teenager can get deep into the woods with an issue, taking it on as an all-consuming challenge that can’t be easily overcome. And that can cause them to close up emotionally. Instead of pushing them through the situation and creating more frustration, stop and do something else for a bit. Even a quick walk with the dog, helping with something else around the house, or playing a game is all that’s needed to get refocused and see the issue in a whole-new light.

Do Something Fun

Adults often cope with stress by doing something they enjoy, such as exercise, spending time with friends, reading a book, or watching a movie. The same approach to managing stress can work for a teenager. What does your child like to do? Doing something fun is one of the teen coping skills that can stick with them as they grow and mature, providing them with a positive alternative to stress.

Maintain Healthy Habits

As much as teenagers might be able to live on pizza, Twinkies, and candy or stay up until all hours of the night, healthy habits make for much better teen coping skills. Support your child’s better-for-them choices, such as a smart diet full of good foods and developing a consistent sleep schedule. Incorporating regular physical exercise will create that much-touted triumvirate that builds a solid foundation as they grow.

Be a Good Role Model

One of the best ways to help your child develop great teen coping skills is to model them yourself. Don’t just tell them how to handle stress and cope with the ups and downs of life; show them by doing it all yourself. Even if teens act as if they’re not listening, they are. As a parent, and one of the most important people in their lives, you can do a lot to help them by:

• Openly communicating your feelings. Talk about your day and your relationships, the good and bad.
• Being a facilitator when the routine gets stagnant. Suggest a road trip, change of scenery, or just a stop at the local ice cream shop.
• Having fun and letting your children know you’re enjoying doing your thing, even if it’s not with them. They’ll see you prioritizing your self-care, which will prompt them to do the same.
• Practicing healthy eating, a good sleep schedule, and incorporating regular exercise. Invite your teenager to join you by planning a meal or two or going on a bike ride with you.

The more you can live a life that is real, including celebrating highs and discussing the lows, the better you’ll be able to model teen coping skills for your children. And that will set them up for a lifetime of success.

Teen Coping Skills and Healthy Living

Community Choice is here to help your teenagers stay happy and healthy as they navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood. At our practice, we welcome all children, and we meet our patients where they are. If you need a supportive pediatrician, contact us to schedule an appointment.

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