Good Beginnings For Your Keiki
Every Friday in KITV4News this Morning and
Saturday in KITV4News at 5 Jill Kurimoto, KITV4 News reporter, produces
and hosts a "Good Beginnings for Your Keiki"
news segment. These segments offer valuable
advice on helping your keiki learn, stay safe and remain healthy.
Shopping Meltdown
When you go shopping with your toddler a little preparedness goes a long way. Pack a favorite book or toy and snacks to keep them busy on the journey. Children do better when they are well rested, not hungry or rushed. Talk to your child beforehand and explain to them the purpose of the trip. Make shopping with your toddler a learning experience. The market can be a great place to learn numbers, colors and shapes. Shopping and running errands can be enjoyable with practice and patience. But when the meltdown is unavoidable try compromising with your youngster. And remember to take your cues from your toddler....and if it doesn't work maybe it's best to call it a day and postpone your errands for another day.
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Dental Health
Good dental habits should begin long before the first tooth breaks the surface. Using a soft baby cloth with just tap water in the bath is a very good time to clean the teeth. Experts say this helps remove plaque and food debris and also gets your child used to the cleaning process. Make it a daily routine and keep it FUN by making up a song, use a toothbrush with a cool design, or create a game. Promoting healthy teeth includes eating healthy foods everyday. To avoid tooth decay don't put baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or other liquids containing sugar. The Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the first dental visit at about a year old.
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Crosswalk Safety
Each year children are victims of pedestrian crashes because they tend to do things that put them at risk, such as dart in to the middle of the street behind parked cars or play in or near streets. Children may also have the perception that if they see the driver the driver can see them. In fact Hawaii's children between 0 and 14 years of age have the highest rates of hospitalization and ER visits for traffic related pedestrian injuries. Teach your young child what a crosswalk is and to look both ways before crossing. Younger children should cross with an adult or older friend. Hold the hand of the adult when crossing the street. Only cross at intersections with signals. Practice with children to listen for cars, be alert and make eye contact. Lead by example.
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Teaching Science & Math in the Kitchen
Cooking at home is a natural way to teach young children math and science skills. Children learn using all their senses, and in the kitchen, math is everywhere; Recipes, setting the table, even shopping for food. Science for young children can be as simple as pointing out how things change when you bake and cook things. There's also a benefit for those picky eaters. Children who help participate in cooking activities will eat what they cook 99.9% of the time. Make mealtime and learning time fun.
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Baby Sign Language
Parents of children under 3-years-old will agree that communicating with your baby is one of the most frustrating aspects of parenting. That's one reason why "baby sign language" is becoming increasingly popular. Being able to communicate with your child before she can speak has its rewards. It helps gives parents clues about what their child wants and cuts frustration levels down. Whether or not baby signing will give your child an advantage may not be as important as the bridge it builds between you and your child.
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Perinatal Depression
Research has shown the majority of new mothers have mood swings known as "baby blues". The condition usually occurs right after giving birth and can easily be treated with proper rest and support. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Get out of the house, exercise and eat well. Don't expect too much from yourself and talk to others about the way you feel. You can find help with "PPD Support Hawaii" at the website or by phone.
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Learning in the Garden
Helping to prepare the soil, planting the seeds and watering is a simple way to introduce children to the garden. Don't have access to a garden? Use potted plants on the windowsill. To keep your child's interest it's best if you use plants that produce quickly like lima beans and tomato plants. As you and your child watch the growth use the opportunity to introduce math such as counting the days before the seedlings start to sprout. The main thing is make any project relaxed and fun enjoying the time you spend together.
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Early Kindergarten Registration
Early kindergarten registration is not only good for the student; it's also good for the schools. It helps schools to know how may teachers they will need to hire, plus the amount of school supplies they will need. Once school begins schools have difficulty finding qualified teachers. Signing up now could make it easier for your child to move into a large school environment. Making this big event in your child's life a smooth transition is a good beginning.
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OBESITY
Researchers are calling the rise in childhood obesity an epidemic. The time to teach children about healthy life style habits is during the earliest years of development. There are a number of factors behind the rising number of obese children. Irregular eating patterns is one. Establish a breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a midmorning and midafternoon snack. Remember snacks are only snacks. Make sure the portions are healthy. Lack of exercise is another problem. Keiki should be doing something active everyday. Overweight children face much more than health problems. It can also lead to low self-esteem. Eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean not enjoying fun foods. Make sure to be a role model to your keiki. Choose healthy foods and fun activities together.
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HARSH WORDS
Out of almost 1,000 parents polled, 90% reported using one or more forms of "psychological aggression" meaning yelling, screaming, name calling or cursing. Children who were called names or belittled by parents ended up with more problems in school and aggression towards others. Cool off before disciplining your child. If your keiki's are fighting practice working things out with words. Ignoring inappropriate behavior is not the answer. Instead discuss with your child a better way to react and why.
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CHILD SAFETY
By the time your baby is about 8 months old they're just now learning how to move around on their own. This is when you need to be more alert than ever about safety hazards. The greatest safety hazard for babies 8-11 months old is choking, because taste is one of baby's strongest senses. If an object can fit through a toilet paper tube it is likely to be a hazard for a child. Scan your environment and remove access to anything dangerous. Stay alert to your baby's activity. Babies this age should not be scolded for simply being curious.
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Learning Differences
Research has shown boys and girls learn differently and although they need the same things such as dolls, trucks, dress up areas and blocks they will use them differently. For example with blocks, girls tend to build outward. Boys build upward and then knock them over. Scientists say there's a reason why preschool boys can't sit still. Testosterone spurts, on average, happen between two and five times an hour. While girls also have these energy bursts they're not as frequent. If your son or daughter doesn't seem to act like the typical boy or girl it doesn't mean there's something wrong. Knowing these differences can help make learning a more enriching and enjoyable experience for your child.
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Day at the Beach
A day at the beach can be a lesson in math, language, and a place to practice social skills. Don't worry about expensive toys; just grab a few things from the kitchen. Collecting shells and stones and sorting them by size, shape and color help children learn "classification" that is so important in school. After a day at the beach the stones and shells collected can be used to make a collage or other art. Sharing stories about the day help form connections between the real world and symbols we use for writing and reading and help develop memory and critical thinking. All these experiences lay the foundation for learning which lead to reading, writing and thinking about the world. Take advantage of these fun times and make them opportunities for learning.
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Kupuna
Hawaii has a special tradition of "Ohana" where family and friends support and help each other. But today a greater number of Grandparents or Kupuna are raising their grandchildren. According to the 2000 census, in Hawaii we have about 14,000 grandparents responsible for raising their grandchildren in their homes. About 3,000 are the sole caregiver. While "ohana" has something to do with Hawaii's high numbers other factors are divorce, drugs, incarceration and now deployment. Raising a second generation of keiki has its extra challenges. Grandparents usually are on a fixed income, there are also health concerns and legal issues. There are many organizations providing resources for grandparents who are raising keiki, from respite care to financial planning to child development classes. Despite the challenges grandparents say the rewards are priceless and they feel their better caregivers in their golden years.
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Bike Safety
Most recent statistics show children account for 40- percent of bicycle injuries in car crashes. And bicycle helmets are 80-percent effective in preventing head injuries. It is a good idea to start teaching your child to be safe as soon as he's mastered peddling a tricycle. Making sure the helmet fits properly is important to ensure your child's safety. Helping your child learn safety rules can protect them. Be a role model by wearing your helmet and riding safely.
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Facing Fears
Sights and sounds that adults take for granted and barely notice can be extremely frightening to a young child. Even a child's dream can seem so real that it can cause lasting fears. So how can parents react to a child's fear? By paying attention to children when they talk about their fears or having them draw a picture. Also by helping them with their vocabulary so they can express how they feel. It is also important for parents to share that at times they have fears too, but it is something that can be overcome.
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SUNSCREEN
"Sun" and "Fun" go together here in the Islands, but there can be a price to pay with too much U.V. exposure. No skin type is immune to the harmful effects of skin cancer. But the good news is that with sun protection, you can reduce your keiki's lifetime risk by 78% if they are protected from age six months to 18 years. Applying sunscreen is one way to protect your keiki - make sure to use a sunscreen with at least a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or more. Also, wearing protective clothing is an effective way to protect your keiki from the sun. And remember, the sun is strongest from 11AM to 3PM - so try to plan your outings accordingly. Enjoy the sun, but do it safely.
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TRANSITIONS
Making the transition from pre-school to kindergarten is difficult for our keiki. Experts say it's crucial keiki find school to be a warm, caring place right from the start. If keiki get off to a rocky start to school, it can adversely affect their academic career for years to come. You can help ease the transition. Listen to their concerns and address them no matter how silly it sounds. Take some of the anxiety out by introducing your keiki to the school and teacher on a separate occasion. Most importantly, comfort your child when telling them goodbye by telling them when you're leaving and when you'll return (sneaking out, which some parents feel is easier on the child, actually causes more anxiety).
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READINESS
How can you help your keiki get ready for Kindergarten? Provide as many social opportunities as you can for your keiki to play and interact with other children. Cultivate intellectual opportunities by helping keiki with reading, learning songs and rhymes and knowing their names and age. Practice self-confidence building by giving keiki tasks around the house so they learn to be independent, such as washing hands, using the bathroom, and some easy chores. Lastly, make sure your keiki's physically ready for Kindergarten by completing required immunizations and updating proper dental checkups. Just get your keiki excited to learn: ready, set, go!
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HANDWASHING
Wash your hands - it's what your mom always told you. Get a paper towel, turn on the running water, and use lots of soap. How do you make hand washing fun while making sure it's done properly? Tell your keiki to sing the alphabet song through to the end while hand washing (this will take at least 30 seconds) - and make sure to get in between fingers. Then, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet...so you don't pick up the germs again. Most importantly, be a role model & practice good hand washing yourself.
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BOTTLE FEEDING
They say breast feeding your baby is best. However, there are times when babies MUST be bottle fed, and a mother shouldn't feel guilty for it. Experts advise mothers to hold the bottle & baby with their head higher than their feet. Also, don't lie baby on its back to drink...fluid can fill the ear canal and cause ear infections. Avoid letting baby fall asleep with the bottle in its mouth, and watch for signs of formula allergies. The decision to bottle feed is a personal decision...be sure it's an informed one.
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SHARE A BOOK
Child development experts say the most important activity you can do with your keiki is to share a book. The learning experience is even more enhanced when you make the story come alive for your keiki. So, make reading time a daily routine...and open a wonderful world of new experiences for your keiki.
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Reading to Your Child
Reading to your child is like investing in the child's future. Reading
helps develop language skills, brain development and also helps
increase their attention span. Create a reading routine, keep books
everywhere and let your child see you reading the newspaper,
magazine, signs in stores, etc.
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Bed Time Routines
Putting a child down to sleep takes time and planning. Think ahead.
Establishing a routine helps a child anticipate and predict and helps
them feel in control. Engage in play that gets increasingly calmer.
Make bedtime fun for children.
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Immunizing your Child
Diseases are still prevalent in the world. Immunizing your child
protects your child and protects other children from diseases.
Parents should keep a “shot card,” immunization record for each
of their children and bring it with them each visit to the doctor.
All young children should have completed their first set of
immunizations by 18 months. Hawaii now requires children must
be immunized against chicken pox before entering preschool.
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Water Safety
Never leave children unsupervised near water. Install a fence
around pools, keep a cordless phone nearby, adults should know
how to swim and learn CPR. The best thing we could do for our
children is to teach them to swim.
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