February is a great month to talk about health, as it is both American Heart Month and National Children’s Dental Health Month! While kids have the same major health checkpoints as adults, they also have a unique set of guidelines for what should be attended to on a regular basis.
Staying Active and Engaged
Though we have made great strides against the childhood obesity epidemic, it is still a very real and major concern for our children. With advances in technology, it is easy for all ages to get caught in a more sedentary lifestyle. As adults, we must not only encourage a more active lifestyle we must also work hard to model that behavior. Keeping kids involved in activities not only keeps them healthy, it adds opportunities for socialization which enriches their communication skills and emotional wellbeing among other benefits.
Sports are the perfect chance to get your child active and engaged on all levels. It provides a high level of physical activity, incorporates mental toughness and use of strategy, and allows for socialization and bonding. Diane Hesson of Play It Again Sports completely agrees, stating “Keeping kids active is important for their overall development. Socially, they get to interact with other children and make friends whom they otherwise might not encounter. They learn how to share, compete, win and lose. Physically and mentally, they will start to develop better routines and keep their bodies and minds in motion. In addition to providing a store full of new and gently used sporting equipment at affordable prices, we work with several organizations in Lincoln and the surrounding areas to support and promote all sporting activities that are available to kids with a vast offering of equipment. Having these products available for the majority of sports also makes it easy to utilize our ‘trade in’ process. This allows kids to try or participate in several different sports at a fraction of the cost.”
Nicki Baker of Nebraska Cheer Center adds, “Children thrive off of having structure in their lives. Keeping them active in sports and other activities outside the home produces the best results in school, encourages children to utilize skills they have learned outside the home, as well as gets children accustomed to working with a team all while offering many opportunities to learn the value of respect for self and others. Cheerleading and tumbling are sports that teach children a great deal of agility, athleticism, flexibility, and endurance. Not only that, the athletes learn how to develop and maintain mental stamina, learn individual and group goal setting skills, as well as how to work well with other children. All these skills will help each athlete grow into a strong, well-rounded adult. Our goal at Nebraska Cheer Center is to help each individual who walks into our gym become the best person they can be both mentally and physically.” Additionally, Baker emphasizes, “In this day and age, children are constantly subjected to social media, television, and advertisements that may cause them to feel unsure of themselves, causing future issue with healthy body image and self-worth. Nebraska Cheer Center is an encouraging place where children will feel loved, important, and special. Each athlete at NCC is an important part of our gym family, from the 3-year-old Tiny Tumbler through our most elite, highly trained senior athlete. Children need a positive role model to look up to when they are seeking attention or approval. The healthiest children are those who have people in their lives who encourage them, care for them, and steer them in the right direction. At Nebraska Cheer Center, we strive to be that for each and every athlete. Healthy kids are happy kids. We want all children to have a place outside of the home that makes them feel safe, helps them stay healthy, and keeps them happy! Nebraska Cheer Center is the place to be!”
Chiropractic Care For Children
Chiropractic care is a great wellness tool for kids as well as adults. In fact, the Independent Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) has initiated a groundbreaking study on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for children. The preliminary results are outstanding and show that chiropractic care is safe for children. Even more significant is that parents reported three unexpected improvements with their child’s care:
1. Improved sleeping
2. Improved behavior and attitude
3. Improved immune system function
The nerve system controls and coordinates the function of all the systems in the body: circulatory, respiratory, digestive, hormonal, eliminative and immune system. Any aspect of health may be impaired by nerve interference. The chiropractic adjustment restores nerve system function allowing the body the ability to express a greater state of health and well-being. This can include: improved sleep, improved behavior and attitude, increased immune system, improved allergies, improved asthma, and a host of other benefits.
Dr. Austin Weaver, owner of Holmes Lake Chiropractic, advises, “Children’s spines are a lot more mobile than those of adults and as a result, usually require only a few adjustments to restore normal function. The actual number of adjustments, however, may vary depending on the length of time that the condition has been present. The adjustment for children is typically modified, depending on age, to provide a gentle and effective adjustment for that specific child. Many spinal problems seen in adults began as early as birth. As the infant grows, learning to hold up the head, sit, crawl and walk are all activities and changes that affect spinal alignment and are important times to have a child checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic. As the child begins to participate in regular childhood activities like skating or riding a bike, small yet significant spinal misalignments (subluxations) may occur. If neglected, the subtle trauma or injuries during this period of rapid growth may lead to more serious problems later in life. Any interference to the vital nerve system will adversely affect the body’s ability to function at its best.” He adds, “Today’s parents are also more concerned than ever about the adverse effects drugs have on their children. They are hesitant to merely mask symptoms with drugs, are worried about side effects, and are actively seeking health care options which support their children’s own natural ability to be healthy. Chiropractic care is one such option. All children function better with 100% nerve function. Chiropractic care for children is very safe, gentle and effective.”
Dr. Corey Dousharm of Mosier Timperley Chiropractic agrees that Chiropractic care provides HUGE benefits to children. She says, “Even at such young ages, kids go through so many traumas, which include: the entire birth process (both assisted & unassisted from forceps, vacuum, and C-section procedures), learning to stand/walk, and crawling on/falling off steps/playsets. We have all seen those blooper videos of kids hurting themselves by tumbling down stairs, or falling off a swing set. These actions seem like ‘normal kid things’, but they are really traumas to their little bodies. While children may not manifest problems immediately, these injuries can play larger roles later in life if not taken care of promptly. I recommend that a newborn be checked soon after birth, to make sure that their nervous system is able to function at its highest ability. Getting an infant checked early in life can help prevent common problems like: colic, reflux, general fussiness, and ear infections. Each child is different in his/her needs for care, and depending on what age they begin, may require more or less care. I prefer to assess each child individually and discuss the parents’ goals in order to determine the best treatment plan. As far as techniques, I have received extra training in pediatric adjusting and I prefer to use a very low force and gentle adjustment. Chiropractic is a great benefit for total body health & wellness in that it looks at the body as a whole, taking care of the problems where they start rather than just treating symptoms. By making sure that the spine is in proper alignment, the body is able to function at its highest ability!” She adds, “When looking for a Chiropractor for your children, it is important to find one who your child is comfortable with. Set up a consultation before starting care. This will give you the opportunity to see how the Doctor interacts with your child, and how the child responds to the Doctor. I have found that when kids are comfortable, they are more willing to be adjusted and respond better to care. While kids may not be exhibiting major symptoms, they have still gone through so many traumas in their life and preventative care is key.”
Dental Care Guidelines
In honor of Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Andrew Glenn, D.D.S. provides the following guidelines for dental care:
• Know your dentist’s emergency number or how to obtain immediate care. Accidents do happen and immediate care can prevent additional problems or future complications.
• Make brushing and flossing a part of your everyday routine. Also, an important reason to see the dentist at 1-year-old and above is to get preventative education before problems happen. It may seem like common knowledge, but some parents need to be reminded about the importance of simple things like avoiding drinking juice or milk at bedtime or avoiding soda as this causes more cavities at the gum line.
• Regular checkups every six months are optimal for preventative care, and they also set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth and associated total body benefits resulting from a beautiful smile.
Family Wellness
As a parent, it is overwhelming when you think of all that is needed to keep your family health and happy. Family Health Care Center’s Dr. Rachel Blake offers a few simple ways to make big changes in your family’s heath. She says, “One of the best ways to assure long lasting health for your child is to incorporate exercise into their daily routine. Make exercise fun and something they enjoy. It can be a quick jog around the block with the dog, a trip to the skating rink or swimming lessons. Obesity in children has grown to dangerous levels. Keeping them active can avoid this disease in your child. One other simple thing for families to do is to avoid sugary beverages. Skip juice boxes or sports drinks. Water and fruit are more helpful. Do not introduce pop or soda to your children! This is something they do not need and can become a dangerous habit that leads to obesity.” Dr. Blake adds, “We encourage family wellness to keep our pediatric patients healthy and happy. By involving the family, and making sure they are healthy, it ensures that children will learn good habits and grow into healthy adults. We involve parents in decisions and make sure they leave feeling that all questions have been addressed and answers are easy to understand. Every child is different, so we do not take an assembly line approach, but rather a tailored approach to every family which follows the guidelines of the American Acadamy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.”
There is so much information out there about what is right and what is wrong, and as most parents know it can be challenging to decide what is best for each unique child. A healthy level of skepticism should always be maintained when sifting through information and advice, especially as the Internet has made it easier to have access to a wealth of information that may or may not be accurate. Evaluating the source of this information to make sure it is credible is essential, but it is even better to have local sources that you can reach out to when you need solid answers. The most important part of keeping kids healthy and happy is a total wellness approach that ensures all of the bases are covered and there is a good balance in the mental, physical and emotional areas.