I continue to pray for you daily, especially in these post-pandemic times…

It’s been a while since my last blog but Coronavirus hit my home hard as well.

My deepest sympathies and condolences to all who lost loved ones during the pandemic and I pray that you are able to find comfort as you continue to rebuild your lives..

Recently, you may have noticed that your child gets sick more often since returning to life as we once knew it.

Well, you are DEFINITELY NOT alone..

In fact, after masks came off and children reconvened at school and daycare centers, their immune systems that were unchallenged during lockdown, seemed to have difficulty adjusting just as we did. Viruses and bacteria revved up and took down their unprepared immune systems. My beloved Child Life parents have so often questioned me about this miserable consequence, that I decided to share a bit of guidance about it.

Here are some tips:

First of all, please recognize that many face the same struggle and you are not alone. We all have faced this, so try to stay positive and do not blame yourself.

Arm your child with sleep. Our bodies go into self repair mode as we sleep so depriving our bodies of this can leave our bodies extremely vulnerable to illness. Proper sleep makes the immune system strong and ready for the challenges of the school environment.

Sleep time recommendations for infants up to age 1 is 14-16 hours per night (including naps)

Children ages 1-4 require 11-14 hours, (with naps included)

Ages 5-13 require 10-12 and 13 to 18 year olds require 9-10..

It may be difficult to ensure that your child gets the sleep that their bodies require because most children don’t willingly dance off to bed at night.

Sleep time routines help to ensure less difficulty at bed time.

This includes powering down electronic devices at least 2 hours before bedtime, as well as dimming the lights, slowing down routines of sports/exercise and putting away homework. Make these adjustments and make the environment tranquil at least two hours before bedtime. For older children, stopping screen time, reading a book, listening to soothing music, prayer, and/or meditation help the racing mind settle down.

Healthy eating which, in this case, means a well balanced diet with plenty of water, fruits and vegetables. Sugar and processed foods elevate blood sugar levels. Sugar is a good source of nourishment for viruses and bacteria. Most germs in the body thrive in a high sugar environment so cutting way down on the sugar laden foods is helpful.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, Vitamin C and iron because they are important building blocks for healthy immune systems.

These include but are not limited to the following foods:

Vitamin D and Iron: salmon, sardines, egg yolks, red meat, oatmeal cereals, legumes, spinach, olives, raisins/prunes, apricot, plant milks and fat spreads.

Vitamin C : Citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato juice, potatoes, red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, brussel sprouts, and cantaloupe.

Remember, iron rich foodsshould be consumed with Vitamin C rich goods. Vitamin C rich foods help iron absorb into the gut better.

Another important immune booster is probiotics. Probiotics nourish, sustain and fortify the gut. A great deal of our immunity comes from our digestive system. Therefore, gut health boosts health of the immune system as well.

Yogurt and Kimchi are foods that contain probiotics and can easily be incorporated into our daily diet. Taking a probiotic supplement can also be extremely helpful. Please talk to me at your next visit about healthy probiotic supplement options.

Last but definitely not least, EXERCISE. Regular cardiovascular exercise strengthens our muscles, bones, heart and lungs. It also supports healthy blood flow and digestion. When all of these organs systems are functioning optimally, the immune system also works better too. Three to four days per week of a minimum of 20-30 minutes of exercise should do the trick. But remember, as stated before, avoid exercise one hour before sleep time. Your child’s body requires time to relax and unwind before bed and allow the hormones that promote healthy sleep to kick in.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this list also is what is recommended for optimal growth of my Child Life Pediatric children…This makes sense because if it keeps your immune system healthy, it keeps your body healthy and healthy bodies grow taller !

Many of my Child Life patients have been asking me about growing taller so here it is, kids!

I pray this message helps you. And once again, blessings to you all.

Blessings and love

Robyn Cadet, MD

Hello again my Child Life Families,

I pray that all of my Child Life Pediatrics families are still well and safe.

In the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic, I have become more and more aware, both personally and professionally, of the toll it has taken on us all…
When I say this, I am speaking of how this pandemic pulled the rug out from under us, thrusted us into a “new normal” and has forced us to appreciate how fragile our lives truly are. For some of us, this adjustment has caused us to feel less secure, fearful, anxious.

I confess that I have felt the insecurity, the anxiety and the fear. I have prayed about it but I still find myself sometimes feeling the uncertainty of what is to come and that feeling is NOT a comfortable one. As a pediatrician, I could not help but to wonder what this is doing to the spirits of our precious children. Therefore, I decided to offer` you some guidance that hopefully will help you to emotionally and mentally navigate your young ones through this unprecedented time.

Here are some useful suggestions that I thought might be helpful to you.

* First and foremost, please allow yourself to feel. We are human beings with human emotions. Whatever you feel, you are not wrong to feel it. It is normal to feel fear, anxiety, vulnerability and frustration at times like this. However, we must try our best not to get lost in those feelings… we have to find a way to cope. I have a suggestion… I have made no secret to all of you that I am a praying woman. My prayer time helps me to face each day thankful, faithful and calm. I respect all religions and spiritual practices. Please allow yourselves some time to pray, worship, meditate, practice mindfulness, etc. Focusing on this Coronavirus entity is debilitating. Please take some time each day to focus inwardly. This will help to clear your mind and refocus on a power higher than us that can take us through this and ease our fears, doubts and concerns in the meantime. Your children will learn to do this from you. This is a valuable lesson, teaching them, by your example, that this is a valuable way to cope with this and any future challenges that life may bring.

* Practice frequent emotional check-ins. Check in with your child often and make time to ask what they are feeling and be ready and willing to listen to what they have to say. Listen carefully to how they are feeling…. listen without interrupting. Validate their feelings and let them know that you understand. Good communication is essential to their emotional well-being during this time. If you check in with them on a regular basis, it makes them feel safer and more secure. Truly good listening validates their feelings and can reassure and relax them. This regular practice of having these conversations also encourages children to be better communicators in adulthood.

* Be honest. Speak to them about the virus. Let them know that it is scary for everyone but be careful not to dwell on the fear aspect. In addition, there are a lot of rumors out there about Coronavirus and you do not want your children to be misinformed or getting information from their peers instead of you. The pandemic is real, it is poorly understood and difficult to control. However, try to encourage your children to focus on what they CAN control… eating healthy, drinking lots of water, exercise, taking vitamins, washing hands, social distancing, wearing masks, to name a few. Controlling what you CAN control not only can prevent spread of the virus but it gives us an opportunity to focus our minds on prevention and maintaining good health. This helps to calm anxiety and these control measures keep you healthy…. you can’t go wrong with that!

* Try to avoid watching a lot of television news programs and Internet reports about the doom and gloom of this current situation. The news media has done a great job keeping us informed but the reports can be frightening even for us, as adults. Imagine how that wealth of information can affect the developing minds of our children. Please limit the focus on media reports. My suggestion is to stay abreast with a few moments of media reports per day then focus on something more positive and productive.

* Sort out “what if” from “what is”. Help kids to separate what is currently happening from what they worry about happening. Let them know that you will deal with the “what ifs” if (or when) they come up.

* Allow for some virtual time. I usually do not advocate for screen time for children. However, with our “new normal” virtual time can sometimes be the only way that our kids can connect with friends, cousins, etc.. When I say this, I am referring to Zoom meetings with friends and loved ones (not video games)… Encourage this new normal until we can be together safely again. Limit the duration, of course, but yes, allow it, please.

* Remember that children learn by example, so please be very careful about how you are dealing with YOUR stress in front of them. It is also a good idea to be mindful of your conversations with other people in front of your children. Constantly speaking about how scared you are and how you can’t sleep at night because of what is going on will only feed your child’s fear. Although your personal feelings may be valid, be careful about how you convey your feelings to your child as well as what you say in front of them. On this note, please be mindful of how you communicate about social distancing, wearing masks, etc. You should explain to your child that this is necessary step to stop the spread of germs and to make sure they stay healthy. There is no need to discuss extremes of what could happen to them if they do not wear masks because “extreme wording” can breed fear and anxiety.

* Master the art of distraction. This pandemic and social distancing has left way too much time for our children to worry about a world that they cannot control. Be creative in ways to fill that idle time by taking your children into the backyard to play, reading books together, family board games, charades, to name a few. Many of my young patients have shared that they love the extra time with their parents that they have had during the pandemic. Therefore, please teach your children to embrace and make the most of the extra time. It teaches your children to embrace change and make lemonade when life gives you lemons.

I hope that these suggestions are helpful to you.

Please stay safe and blessed and remember, I am always here for you.

Blessings and love to all,
Robyn Cadet, MD

Blessings to my Child Life Pediatric Families… I pray that everyone is well and safe in this new and very different era that we have been thrusted into.

First and foremost, I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to anyone who has lost any loved ones to this horrific virus. Please accept my prayers and unwavering support in this difficult time.

Secondly,

If you need me, I am still here for you. Please call my office for questions or for regular visits for your children.

My staff and I have implemented a new and different experience in our office in order to protect our families from Coronavirus exposure when visiting us. Please read this carefully…

– WHEN MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL BE SCREENED VIA TELEPHONE ABOUT POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO CORONAVIRUS.

– THERE WILL NOT BE A WAITING ROOM EXPERIENCE AT CHILD LIFE PEDIATRICS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

– WE ASK THAT WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE PARKING LOT.
EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY DROPPING OFF OR PICKING UP PAPERWORK, PLEASE CALL US FROM THE PARKING LOT TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ARRIVED.

– WHEN AN EXAM ROOM IS READY, WE WILL CALL YOU TO COME IN. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS IN THE ELEVATOR OR IN THE WAITING ROOM WHEN YOU ARRIVE. UPON ARRIVAL, YOU WILL PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE EXAM ROOM AND WILL SEE THE NURSE AND THE DOCTOR. ALL STAFF WILL BE WEARING MASKS FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND THEIRS. AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU PROCEED OUT OF THE OFFICE AND CALL FOR ANY ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS. WE WILL NOT CALL ANYONE ELSE DOWN UNTIL YOU HAVE LEFT.

-THIS PROCEDURE HAS BEEN WORKING WELL TO PROTECT OUR PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF SO FAR.

Finally, I would like to offer full disclosure to you on my knowledge, my opinion, thoughts and feelings on Coronavirus.

When reports on the news first aired about Coronavirus cases in China and the fatalities that followed, I prayed for our Chinese brothers and sisters much like I do when I hear of any other unfortunate circumstance that may occur abroad… because in my 20+ years in pediatric practice, I have been caring for patients through quite a few life threatening epidemics. West Nile, SARS, H1N1, and Zika virus to name a few. Never did I imagine, the worldwide impact, the fatalities and spread… and now it is here, in our backyard and front yard, our homes, our workplaces, EVERYWHERE. It is very scary for me, just as it is for all of you. I will continue, as always, to be a reliable resource and will do EVERYTHING that I can to be the best pediatrician to your children. I am here for your questions, your concerns as well as for seeing your child in my office under the safest conditions that I can possibly offer.

Unfortunately, as I mentioned Coronavirus hit us like a ton of bricks and none of us were prepared. The ultimate unfortunate circumstance was that we, as physicians, were just as unprepared as everyone else, which is never a good thing in the face of such a dire global pandemic. Therefore, with all of this uncertainty, I decided that I would give my patients and families as much information as I have and will keep you updated as this new era evolves and more information is accessed.

So, lets start from the beginning…
The virus group known as Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses much like the common cold, in that it infects the upper respiratory tract such as your nose, throat and sinuses. Respiratory viruses all have the potential to spread into the lower respiratory tract such as your lungs and airways. As far as we know, right now, there are seven strains in the Coronavirus viral group. Keep in mind that these coronaviruses have been causing cold symptoms for quite some time but this particular strain that has been causing this pandemic is much much more severe. This deadly strain is officially called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 or SARS Cov-2. It has also been named “novel coronavirus”. The name “COVID-19” comes from the name of the severe respiratory disease that the virus causes which is actually a shortened version of the name “Coronavirus disease 2019”. The number 2019 represents the first known cases, which occurred in December 2019. Thus the name COVID-19. It is called Coronavirus because when it is visualized under a microscope, it looks like a crown. This severe strain is quick to invade the lower respiratory tract and causes pneumonia. This pneumonia creates the shortness of breath symptoms and requires immediate medical attention. Older people with or without underlying conditions have been more susceptible to more aggressive COVID symptoms and poorer outcome. However, those who are infected range in symptoms from mild cold symptoms to severe respiratory symptoms. Several people have no symptoms at all and are common vectors of spread to others because they feel normal and are out and about on their regular daily routines.

The virus is spread by close contact, direct contact and droplets. Even these modes of transmission, however, have been a subject of debate.

The symptoms include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath. Other symptoms are fatigue, headache and body aches. Less commonly seen are congestion and loss of sense of smell/taste. Symptoms usually can be seen from 2 days after exposure all the way up to 14 days after exposure.
This is why most exposed or symptomatic people have been isolated for up to 14 days.

Before I discuss prevention, here is what should be done if symptoms occur..

Not every fever is COVID-19. I realize and can identify with the anxiety that you may will feel if you or your loved ones have a fever right now. I completely understand. However, try to take a deep breath and assess the situation. If no one in your household has knowingly been exposed to the virus and you have been in your home for the past few weeks, chances are low that you have the virus. Is there sore throat, ear pain, runny nose…because these symptoms are not typical of Coronavirus and could be strep, another non-threatening virus, ear infection, sinus infection, etc. You can just call and make an appointment to see me.

The same applies to sneezing, sore throat, headache, cough with no fever and no exposure. Allergy season is here and is adding to the madness of this time..Keep that in mind when assessing yourself and your children. Please call my office if you have questions about this and PLEASE TRY NOT TO WORRY.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea have been reported in some patients with coronavirus but once again, if no one in your family has been exposed, these symptoms are likely a stomach virus and if persistent, requires my advice or may warrant a visit to my office, if severe.

Now, if you or someone in your household have been directly exposed to the virus and you have fever cough body aches, then you must proceed to your nearest hospital or urgent care for testing.. If you have shortness of breath, then you need emergency care as soon as possible.

If you test positive for Coronavirus, you must self quarantine for 14 days. The virus usually runs its course in 10-14 days. Household members are considered exposed to you as well, and should be quarantined for the same duration.

Although it has happened, children are less likely to suffer from severe complications of this virus. However, runny nose, congestion, cough are symptoms of many other viruses other than Coronavirus and should be treated as such…The only concern is that if your child was exposed to Coronavirus and has these symptoms with fever, it is likely the virus. Now what does that mean? It really does not mean very much so far. If household members have the Coronavirus and your child has symptoms, it is likely that they have Coronavirus too but there is nothing to do. As deadly as this virus can be, it ranges in its presentation from cold symptoms that are mild to severe disease. Most children only experience the milder cold symptoms and even when they test positive, the only treatment is fever reducers, plenty of fluids and rest. These are the same treatment recommendations for the flu or any other virus…so try not to panic. Be careful, however, if the cough is severe or breathing is labored or difficult or if fever greater than 103 persists, then please proceed to the hospital immediately. Just remember, I would have given you this advice with any virus.

Fortunately, the government mandated school closure and self quarantine measures of people staying home have made it unlikely that your children have been exposed from other children at school or daycare. Therefore, if your household members have not been exposed and have been staying home, then chances are lower that you or your children have the virus.

PREVENTION

Please stay home if possible. When out, please maintain a six foot social distance from others. In close quarters where social distancing is impossible, masks should be worn. In fact, masks should be worn whenever you are out on your daily errands, going to work, etc.

Please do not travel out of state unless it is absolutely NECESSARY.

Please practice thorough hand washing for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water.

If you are unsure whether your profession or recent outing might have resulted in an exposure, you should change your clothes and wash your hands and your face before you have contact with anyone in your home.

If you have been nursing your newborn, please continue breastfeeding because long before Coronavirus, research has suggested that nursing babies receive added protection from respiratory pathogens from breast milk. If you are exposed to the virus, you will actually be passing antibodies to your baby.

Please eat healthy and exercise. Coronavirus has been the most dangerous to older people with underlying conditions. Therefore, a healthy diet and exercise (many gyms and trainers are offering online classes) can help to maintain your health and helps your body to defend itself.

Use the social distancing and self quarantine time to get plenty of sleep. A healthy immune system depends on the body’s energy sources for proper functioning.

Take your multivitamins, probiotics, vitamin c and vitamin d. Your body needs these essentials to defend itself so, in addition to a healthy diet, please make sure that your body is stocked with these…

So, having said all of this….

Please try to remain calm and reach out to me with any concerns or questions that you may have. This is a time that has been difficult for all of us and being anxious or nervous is normal. This is why I wanted to offer you this information and guidance to help you. I will continue to offer you my best and will be here for you in any way that I can. I pray for all of you daily and ask God to wrap His arms around each and every one of you.

I love and appreciate you. Please stay safe and God bless you.

Robyn Cadet, MD

As the school year begins, we, as parents, are getting ready for the homework, school events, parent teacher conference, school stresses… and bullying?

That word does not seem to fit into the list of our concerns for school but unfortunately, it is a fact of school life.

We have to face it. It is rare that a child will not face some level of bullying at some point. Our mission as parents should be to give our children the tools to be able to navigate and overcome those difficult moments. Bullying occurs in the adult world too so these coping tools can be seeds planted that can bear fruit for years to come.

Here’s a few suggestions that I have for parents…

• Take every opportunity to build your child’s self esteem at home. Praise their accomplishments, their efforts, their interests and remind them constantly of how proud of them you are. This fosters their self confidence and that self confidence is the first attribute that bullying tends to attack.
• Make every effort to establish a daily dialogue with your child about how their day was, both academically and socially. Take the time to listen and give positive feedback. Too often, victims of bullying feel isolated and alone and don’t feel safe talking about their situations. This solitude can lead to depression or worse, so please check in daily and stay present in the conversation.
• Listen to your child about what they like to do extracurricularly, and help them to get involved. Studies show that children who are involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to become depressed or overwhelmed by bullying.
• If your child is being bullied, encourage them to talk about their feelings with you. Open honest and comfortable conversation is vital. Your child needs to share their feelings. Listen carefully and let them know how important their voice and their feelings are.
• Stay calm when your child tells you about their bully. (I know this might be tough to do, lol) Show your child, by your example, that they should stay calm in the face of adversity and not react or over-react emotionally.
• Validate your child’s feelings. Let them know that it’s normal to be upset. Validation of feelings encourages trust and keeps your child talking and the dialogue will discourage depression and stress suppression. Also, let your child know that it’s not their fault. Nothing is wrong with the victim of bullying. Make it clear that bullying says less about the victim’s personally than it does about the bully: This bully has a problem and others have to learn how to deflect and contain this problem, and not feed what’s going on. Explain that the worst way to respond is a sort of mob mentality — other children who are afraid of being targets will join with the bully and abandon the victim. Teach your child to resist the herd effect, not to pile on when someone else is being bullied. If your child has the strength to support friends, they will find the nerve to reciprocate.
• Don’t forget to praise your child for sharing their stressful situation with you. It takes courage and maturity to discuss your vulnerabilities, and they need to be applauded for it.
• Practice phrases your child can use to tell someone to stop bullying behavior. These should be simple and direct, but not antagonistic: “Leave me alone.” “Back off.” “That wasn’t nice.”
• Your child could also try, “Yeah, whatever,” and then walk away. The key is that a comeback shouldn’t be a put-down, because that aggravates a bully and can worsen a situation.
• Role-playing is a terrific way to build confidence and empower your child to deal with challenges. You can role-play the bully while your child practices different responses until your child feels confident handling troublesome situations. As you role play, teach your child to speak in a strong, firm voice — whining or crying will only encourage a bully.

It is advisable to seek help within the school system. You and your child should let school officials know about these difficult situations. I advise parents to get involved because it shows your child that they have support (bullying can make your child feel very isolated). Most schools are very intolerant to bullying and school officials should be helpful to you. If this is not the case, contact your school superintendent. This is especially important if bullying is physical because no child should feel unsafe in school.

And with all else said, hug your child, listen to them, praise them and show your love daily. This world can seem cruel and cold, but when your child knows that their home holds warmth and love and unconditional acceptance, THEIR world can be a much better place.

Blessings and love,
Robyn Cadet MD

Now that school is in full swing and kids are back into school time routines, I am sure as parents that your lives have taken a turn toward the hectic, crazy, survival of the fittest mode. Believe me, you are NOT alone. I, too, with three kids, have watched the days of summer leave too quickly and barely noticed that Fall snuck in and stole my time, lol.

I have some useful suggestions to help your children to make the most of their school year. Here goes…

BACKPACK SAFETY
• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight. Go through the pack with your child weekly, and remove unneeded items to keep it light.
• Remind your child to always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
• Adjust the pack so that the bottom sits at your child’s waist.
• If your school allows, consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, they may be difficult to roll in snow, and they may not fit in some lockers

EATING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
• Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better. They do better in school, and have better concentration and more energy. Some schools provide breakfast for children; if yours does not, make sure they eat a breakfast that contains some protein. Hunger can affect school performance.
• Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home and/or have them posted on the school’s website. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
• Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Choose healthier options (such as water) or appropriately sized juice and low-fat dairy products to send in your child’s lunch box. Water is best though.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE
• During early and middle childhood, children need supervision. A responsible adult should be available to get them ready and off to school in the morning and supervise them after school until you return home from work.
• If a family member will care for your child, communicate the need to follow consistent rules set by the parent regarding schedules, discipline and homework.
• If you choose an after-school program for your child, inquire about the training of the staff. There should be a high staff-to-child ratio, trained persons to address health issues and emergencies, and the rooms and the playground should be safe.
• After a healthy after school snack, kids should get straight to homework. After homework, there should be reading time in their schedule so that reading skills can be consistently improved. Inquire with your child’s teacher and choose books and reading that would match your child’s reading level.
• Most teachers will also give helpful suggestions for extra learning once reading is done. Some websites are great for early learners (ie. Starfall).

BULLYING
Bullying or cyberbullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, over the Internet, or through mobile devices like cell phones.

When Your Child Is Bullied
• Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions. Handle it promptly. Your quick action and support of your child can make them feel safe and secure in a situation that is seeking to strip that away.
• Encourage a healthy dialogue between you and your child about how their school day and they will be more likely to share with you when something is not going well. Keep the dialogue going even after the bullying situation has subsided because bullying can have long lasting effects on mood, confidence, and self esteem.
• Make sure that you affirm your child’s beauty, intelligence, and any other attribute that you love about them. This affirmation can counteract the often long term effects of bullying and also helps your child to have a safe place (ie. Your home) where they feel good about themselves and receive the love and praise that they need during such a difficult time.
• Recognize the serious nature of bullying and acknowledge your child’s feelings about being bullied.
• Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to:
1. Look the bully in the eye.
2. Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
3. Walk away.
• Teach your child how to say in a firm voice.
1. “I don’t like what you are doing.”
2. “Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
• Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
• Support outside activities that interest your child. Outside extracurricular activities boost confidence and can be a great distraction to stressful school situations.
• Monitor your child’s social media or texting interactions so you can identify problems before they get out of hand.

When Your Child Is the Bully
• Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK.
• Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
• Help your child learn empathy for other children by asking them to consider how the other child feels about the way your child treated them. Ask your child how they would feel if someone bullied them.
• Be a positive role model. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
• Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
• Focus on praising your child when they behave in positive ways such as helping or being kind to other children as opposed to bullying them.
• Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, school social workers or psychologists, and parents of the children your child has bullied.

DEVELOP A SLEEP ROUTINE
• Getting enough sleep is critical for a child to be successful in school. Children who do not get enough sleep have difficulty concentrating and learning as well as they can.
• Set a consistent bedtime for your child and stick with it every night. Having a bedtime routine that is consistent will help your child settle down and fall asleep. Components of a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, and tucking them in and saying good-night to them.
• Have your child turn off electronic devices well before bedtime. Ipads, cell phones, video games and even television can over stimulate the brain and can lead to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep and increase nightmares and night terrors
• Try to have the home as quiet and calm as possible when younger children are trying to fall asleep.
• Insufficient sleep is associated with lower academic achievement in middle school, high school and college, as well as higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness. The optimal amount of sleep for most younger children is 10-12 hours per night and for adolescents (13-18 year of age) is in the range of 8-10 hours per night.

DEVELOPING GOOD HOMEWORK AND STUDY HABITS
• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework starting at a young age. Children need a consistent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that is quiet, without distractions, and promotes study.
• Sticker charts and positive feedback for sticking to an established routine can help your young student to be inspired to be consistent with their after school responsibilities.
• Schedule ample time for homework; build this time into choices about participation in after school activities.
• Establish a household rule that the TV and other electronic distractions stay off during homework time.
• Supervise computer and Internet use.
• By high school, it’s not uncommon for teachers to ask students to submit homework electronically and perform other tasks on a computer. If your child doesn’t have access to a computer or the internet at home, work with teachers and school administration to develop appropriate accommodations.
• Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child’s homework for her.
• Take steps to help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying. It may be helpful to close the books for a few minutes, stretch, and take a break periodically when it will not be too disruptive.
• If your child is struggling with a particular subject, speak with your child’s teacher for recommendations on how you or another person can help your child at home or at school. If you have concerns about the assignments your child is receiving, talk with their teacher.
• If your child is having difficulty focusing on or completing homework, discuss this with your child’s teacher, school counselor, or schedule an appointment with me.
• For general homework problems that cannot be worked out with the teacher, a tutor may be considered.
• Some children need extra help organizing their homework. Checklists, timers, and parental supervision can help overcome homework problems.
• Some children may need help remembering their assignments. Work with your child and their teacher to develop an appropriate way to keep track of their assignments – such as an assignment notebook.

Remember, consistent routines are ideal. Younger children respond to school routines as well as consistent after school routines.

Have a blessed school year and don’t forget your child’s annual flu shot!

Blessings
Robyn Cadet, MD

Greetings to all,

It is no secret that the cold and flu season is here and not leaving us anytime soon. The news media has also kept us very well informed about how bad this season has been and I am sure that many of my Child Life parents have heard the very scary reports about the flu and its complications.

I thought this would be a good time to make some suggestions for keeping your child and your family healthy during this sick season.

1- I am a believer in ALL children receiving their vaccines in a timely manner and in particular, the flu vaccine. Staying up to date with vaccinations prior to an epidemic gives your child’s body the opportunity to create the proper immune response prior to being exposed to the flu or other vaccine preventable illnesses. In addition, even those children that HAD the flu vaccine and had the influenza virus anyway, had a much milder course of the illness than those who were unvaccinated.

2- Make sure your little one is eating a healthy, well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables tend to contain more vitamin C and zinc, which help the immune system to function properly. A multivitamin and probiotic in your child’s diet will also help to keep them healthy. Limit dairy because it can cause mucus to thicken. Chop up a bunch of vegetables and add them to a pot of chicken soup. Garlic, citrus fruits and foods with zinc, such as meat, chicken, peanuts and peanut butter, are also great immune boosters.

3- If your child is sick and/or has a fever, please do not send them to school. Make sure your little one’s fever and symptoms are improved for 24 hours before going back to school. Too many sick children are in school because parents do not follow this simple rule. This is one of the major reasons that the schools are having epidemics. Keeping your children home until they are well will ensure that they are well enough to return and will also avoid spreading their illness to others.

4- Children need to get plenty of rest when they are sick but sleep deprivation can also lower the body’s defenses and make children more prone to illness. School aged children should get a minimum of 10-12 hours of sleep per night.

5- Get your child in the habit of washing their hands before meals and as soon as they come home from school. Speak to your children about putting their hands in their mouths as, this is one of the top reasons that younger children get sick more often than adults. Also, on one of those warmer days, open the windows to your house and let some good old fresh air come in and let those germs out!

6- Teach your child to cough or sneeze into their elbow or tissue.

7- Make sure that your children drink plenty of water. Water is essential to the immune system response which is why your child needs more water when they are sick. Mucus also thickens and becomes harder to get rid of if your child is dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water will keep mucus thin when your child is sick and will help them to get rid of it easier.

8- Death from the flu is tragic but not common. Although news reports are scary, when your child is diagnosed with flu or has a fever, this does not mean that your child will suffer these severe complications. Please do not hesitate to call my office and set up an appointment for your sick child and after their exam, I will be happy to go over with you the things that you should be looking out for as well as ways to optimize your child’s health and well being.

Blessings to you
Stay well,
Robyn Cadet,MD

Thank you for visiting my quarterly blog. Summer is a time of year for parents and children alike, to exhale from the hectic school schedule and enjoy the warm weather and more relaxed routine. As your Pediatrician, I would like to give some helpful tips to ensure your safety and peace of mind as you and your family enjoy the warm summer months…

-Infants and children ages 6 months and older should wear sunscreen but if possible, infants should avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10am and 2pm when ultraviolet sun rays are at their peak intensity. If your infant is less than 6 months, avoid direct sunlight altogether.

-Insect repellent should be used on infants and children 2 months of age and older.
Please see this website for more detailed information:
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/summer-safety-tips.aspx

-Helmets should be worn when children ride bicycles, scooters and any other mechanical device.

-Pool safety is a crucial summertime topic. Never leave children unattended in a pool. Toddlers and infants should only swim in a pool accompanied by direct supervision of a responsible parent or caregiver in the pool as it takes only a second for a little one to slip underwater. In households with pools, there should be a pool fence that it not easily opened by little hands. Pool fence alarms are also a useful investment.

-Most adults grew up in a time when we played outdoors with our friends and neighbors. However, it is no secret that our world has changed and there are people out there who don’t have our children’s best interest in mind. Therefore, do not leave your child unattended outdoors and have a responsible adult nearby to ensure the safety of your child’s immediate surroundings.

To all of my Child Life Families, have a beautiful summer vacation and God bless you.

Sent with Love,
Dr Robyn Cadet