How To Help Your Child Cope With ADHD

1. Symptoms.

Does your child have trouble sitting still? Does your child fidget like he/she has ants in their pants? What about difficulty keeping their attention in an activity or task? Does your child get upset easily and cry uncontrollably? Is your child easily distracted? These are just a few of ADHD symptoms. Below is a site with a quiz that can be taken for ADHD symptoms.

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/adhd/l/bl_adhd_quiz.htm

2. Diagnosis.

If you suspect that your child might have ADHD, contract your doctor and your child’s school. Usually the teachers and school are very good to work with. The doctor can give your child more extensive testing. Usually ADHD children tend to be highly intelligent.


Below is A video by Dr. Gerald Chodak. He explains ADHD and the brain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJHT5XROrBA



Below is another video that shows one child’s diagnosis of ADHD.




3. Medication

This has been a touchy subject. Only use prescribed medication as a last resort. Too many of our children are over medicated too early too soon. Ritalin has been one of the common choices of medication for ADHD children. There are possible other alternatives.

4. Alternatives.

Diet is very important for ADHD. Certain foods aide in helping your ADHD child. Crackers and pretzels are great snacks. Making your child’s lunch for school assures you that you child is getting the foods that are needed for the ADHD. Apples, oranges, or pears contain complex carbohydrates which may aide your ADHD child for better sleeping at night.

Omega 3’s are considered essential fatty acids that are essential to human health. They can be can be purchased in a chewable fruity form. Most health stores will carry this product. They are great for ADHD children. It helps the neurotransmitters of the brain. It can also be found in Tuna and Salmon. I know of a child that was diagnosed with ADHD. Once the child started on the Omega 3’s and food was monitored, the teachers commented on the drastic improvement they saw in that child.

It helps to be well organized so your child can develop a routine.

Keep a calendar or chart of the good and bad days in the life of your ADHD child. Keep in contact with the teacher also.

Physical exercise and sports cannot be stressed enough. Sports such as soccer, skating, and basketball provide a physical outlet for the ADHD child.

Below is a site with Dr. Mary Jo Wagner. She sponsors on line brain classes for ADHD

http://www.braingymclasses.com/

Tips: Don’t feel guilty if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD.

Be glad that you discovered this and move forward with your child.

WARNING:

Your child would like to be able to sit still, but just can’t with ADHD. That is why it is important to get a proper diagnosis and help, because then many of the symptoms can be dealt with.

How To Grocery Shop With Your Toddler

1. Timing.

Be sure to grocery shop at the a time when both you and your toddler are well rested. This will make all the difference when shopping.

2. Helping.

Allow your toddler to help you shop. Be sure your toddler sits in the cart and is not allowed to run all over the store. As you get your groceries, allow your toddler to put them in your basket. Give your toddler the light and unbreakable items.



Mother pushing toddler in shoping cart.





3. Snacks.


Be sure to take dry snacks that will not be messy for your toddler to snack on. Snacks such as dry cereal. Cheerios or crackers are good. Your toddler may want to snack while shopping.



Toddler eating a cracker.




4. Extra Purchases.

Make it a habit not to buy your toddler toys, gum, and candy while shopping. Your toddler will get used to this and expect it each time that you grocery shop.

5. Coupons and Store.

When possible shop at the same grocery store. Then you and your toddler will become familiar where items are located, which will facilitate faster and more efficient shopping. Be sure to bring coupons along with your grocery list. This allows your toddler to see and observe the importance of both. Take advantage of rebates, printable coupons online, and any other store promotional savings for your groceries. An associate at a grocery store stated that a regular customer saved $250 with coupons each visit.



Clipping Coupons


Below is a video of how Coupon Mom saves money and helps others when shopping.

She bought $161.00 in groceries with $11.00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiY3m1bWM4o




Captions: Fotosearch.com


I welcome your comments. What do you think?

How to Care For Your Asthmatic Toddler

Child Coughing Into Sleeve







1. Calendar

Start keeping a calendar / and or journal for days that your toddler’s asthma seems to flare-up. Some flare-ups are worst in colder, rainy weather, or just when changing climates.




Woman Writing In Journal





2. Flare-ups and Scents

When your toddler wheezes and/or has tightening in the chest, or coughing, rest assured his asthma is flaring up. Be sure that he/she is getting enough rest and sufficient treatments. Rest is important for his /her immune system. Scents also can cause your child’s asthma to flare-up. So beware and observant of various perfumes, colognes, air fresheners, and cleaning products that you may have in your house. They can even cause your toddler to become sick to the stomach.

3. Treatments

Depending on the severity, your doctor may prescribe the Nebulizer treatment or mouth inhaler shown below. Treatment times may vary. Usually most insurance companies will pay for the Nebulizer Unit. Your toddler may need treatment only once a day or possibly two or 3 times a day. Your toddler basically breathes in the medicine from the nebulizer or inhaler which helps the bronchial vessels to open up. If your toddler is coughing often through the night, treatment before bedtime might me crucial. Sometimes the medicine from the nebulizer may tend to make your toddler hyper so you may want to give the treatment a couple of hours before bedtime.

4. Medicine and Foods

Albuterol is the most common medicine that is used with the Nebulizer, it comes in small prepackaged units. Xopenex is another form of medicine for the Nebulizer. Some allergy causing foods can cause asthma flare-ups also. Some of them are processed potatoes, dried fruit, peanuts, soy, wheat, eggs, and fish. According to Quality Health.Com “The photochemical makeup of apples contain flavonoids which seem to decrease bronchial hypersensitivity and lower the risk of asthma.”

5. Weather

Weather definitely affects asthmas. Especially cold weather. When cold air gets into the lungs, it cause vessels to restrict and can cause shortness of breath and coughing. During the winter months, when temperatures go down to 20 degrees or lower, it is important to place a scarf around your toddlers mouth and nose when he/she goes out in the weather. This allows your toddler to breath warm air as oppose to cold air. I know this for a fact. Also, Dr. Oz has emphasized this same thing on the Dr. Oz show. Below is a video of how to use the Nebulizer Wand Treatment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERo7OnLSUWY

Nebulizer Wand Treatment





I welcome your views and your comments. Do you know of someone else that might need this information?

10 Valentine’s Day Ideas For You and Your Child

Girl Holding Valentine






1. Travel.

Travel to another county or state. That is one of the best ways to build character. Check with your travel agency and find some great travel tour packages.

2. Valentine Basket.

Make a basket of things that your child likes. This could include, crayons, coloring books, handheld games, or even ipods. Another idea is for your and your child to make a basket together to give to a relative. Want to make a basket but you have no ideas. See the video below for great ideas to make your next Valentine’s basket. Make a basket for mom, grandmother, auntie, or another favorite relative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We1EXEW3q9A



3. Cell phone.

Many children already have this, but it is a great way to monitor and check on your child when he/she is away from you. Make sure your child knows that there are parental restraints and that there are consequences for misuse of his/her phone.

4. Ask.

Ask your child during regular conversation, if he/she could do anything that they wanted to do within reason, what would it be?

5.Card.

You and your child can sit and make a valentine card together to give to your husband, grandparent, or other relative. You and your toddler might want to write a poem together.

6. Visit a Farm or a Ranch

Visit a farm or a ranch where the animals roam free (deer, squirrels, goats, ducks, etc.). Your child will be able to feed the caged animals. If your toddler loves animals this would be perfect. Below is a site at a ranch that has everything I just talked about. It is also not expensive for you and your toddler.

http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/

7. Ice Capades.

Below is a video of an Ice Capades. If You have never been, it is truly a site to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcz9RikgsZc



8. Car Races

For the child that is interested in the play cars, why not go to an actual car race?

9. Indoor Picnic.

Instead of the traditional outdoor picnic, why not plan an indoor picnic. Be creative and different.

10. Ice Skating and/or indoor skating.

Mom/dad if you have never been, why not start now. Take your child skating. It does not matter that you do not know how. Some places, some days will allow parents on the floor without skates to help their smaller children skate. Skating is fun and very good exercise.

Captions: Fotosearch.com

I welcome your comments and your views. What do you think of the Valentine suggestions that I listed above?

How To Talk To Your Child About the Supernatural

I started trying to read at age 3. The only book in our house was the Bible. I do not know if it was because we were so poor or that my father never read other books. I would take the Bible and ask my father the different words in it. As I read the Bible, I found it fascinating.





Senior Woman Reading The Bible





1. Matthew. 8:28.

This scripture tells us of demons entering a herd of swines. Discuss this story with your toddler as an example of supernatural powers. Tell your toddler about the 2 men that were possessed by the evil spirits and the spirits begged Jesus to cast them into the herd of swines. Then the entire heard jumped into the sea and perished. It took supernatural powers to cast the evil spirits out.

2. Matthew 14:13. The feeding of the five thousand.

You know it is not humanly possible to take 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and feed 5,000 people. Science cannot explain this occurrence. There was something other than human power occurring here.



Jesus Feeding 5,000





3. John 11:43. Raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Tell your toddler about Lazarus being dead for 4 days and that Jesus raised him from the dead. You know that is another occurrence that is not humanly possible. Certainly supernatural occurrences took place.

4. How does this apply to this century?

Miracles are happening everyday in this century. Possibly your toddler was a miracle baby. A baby that the doctors said would not live and that the odds were against it. Possibly the doctors had told you there was nothing more that they could do, but your toddler still lives. Share this with your toddler. Possible your doctor had given you only several years to live saying there was nothing more could be done, but you are still here as a living witness. Through the power of prayer which is a power scientists cannot explain, but the supernatural power of it does work. Share this with your toddler.

I started praying at a very young age because so many things seemed beyond my control and I did not understand. I was in a foster home at age 2. I remember praying for my father to come and get me. I do not know how long I stayed there, but it seemed like an eternity. I could talk very well at age 2. When he did come and get me I remember looking at my foster mother telling her, “My daddy’ s taking me home.” “I will not be back here anymore.” All I know is that my prayers were answered. Share prayer with your toddler. Allow your toddler to see you praying. Pray with your toddler. Let your toddler know when things seem impossible the supernatural powers of prayer can work and the word of God is alive!!!!




Young Man Praying

Photo Captions: Fotosearch.com

I welcome your comments and views. What is your opinion on this subject?

How You and Your Spouse Can Stay On The Same Page With Your Child

Marriage of husband and wife





Before you married, hopefully, you and your husband discussed how you would train your child. It is important to keep in mind that you and your husband were 2 people that came together as one. Hopefully, you have the same main values, but your opinions may differ on various things. What if dad doesn’t do an activity with his/her child the way that mom does. Mom, just pray, relax, and remember this is your husband’s child also. He loves his child just as much as you do.

1. United Front.

It is important that you and your husband exhibit a united front. Bill Cosby often mentioned this on “The Bill Cosby Show.” It is okay for you and your husband to disagree about actions regarding your child, but do it in private, away from your child. Disagreements can be good at times. It is good to discuss each others views. Remember there is no right or wrong answer.

2. Conquer and Divide.

Do not underestimate your child. If your child finds a weak link in you & your husband’s relationship, guess what? He/she will use it to conquer and divide the two of you, because your child wants his/her own way. Yes, your sweet, cute, charming, handsome child.

3. Begging and Whining.

Your child will discover early, which parent is the weakest and will beg or try whining to wear that parent down to get what he or she wants. Again, both parents must get together and present a united front. As much as possible both parents need to be united in the decision- making process.

4. Don’t Tell.

When a child asks one parent not to tell the other parent something, it can cause division and secrecy in the husband and wife relationship.

5. Oldest Trick.

One of the oldest trick is that your child may ask you to do something or go somewhere knowing already that your spouse has said, “No.” Always be sure and check with your spouse. If this happens, talk to your child as well. Express that this is unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated by neither you nor your spouse.

If you have been helped, uplifted, or inspired by this information, please feel free to donate to Anointedtoday. Any amount will be appreciated. Just click on the donate button at the top of the page.


I welcome your comments and views. Do you know of someone else that might want to read this article?

Should You Put Your Toddler On A Diet?

Unless your toddler has a low calorie diet prescribed by a doctor, or some other special condition, why not just modify or change you and your toddler’s eating habits?

1. Exercise.

You and your toddler can exercise together. Make it a fun time for both of you. You can use aerobic tapes, walk, or even go jogging together. Below is a video by Judy Howard. She demonstrates fitness exercises with children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoCU4E_y08



2. Eating Habits.

Change your eating habits. Remember your toddler is watching you. Consider possibly eating several small meals throughout the day as oppose to 3 large meals a day. The more often you eat, the more the metabolism burns. This is especially good for those that are worrying about weight gain. Look for healthy recipes that can be made easily or quickly. Develop good eating habits. It takes 21 days to form a habit. So be persistent. According to Dr. Oz, some of the brain foods that can help you are blackberries, apple juice, and bananas. Make these items your best friend.

3. Activities.

Try involving your toddler in activities that require movement such as gymnastics, soccer, swimming, golfing, or skating. Below is a video at LV indoor Soccer School. Toddlers are learning soccer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8iRKBPd6Wo



4. Late night eating.

Avoid late night eating. It is a habit you don’t want to develop or encourage. You might, however, try a light snack, but nothing heavy.

If you have been helped, uplifted, or inspired by this information, please feel free to donate to Anointedtoday. Any amount will be appreciated. Just click on the donate button at the top of the page.

I welcome your comments and views. Do you know of someone else that might want to read this article?