Top Five things doctors wish you'd do for your grade school child-
Placing all screens in the house in a common area helps you keep an eye on what, and how much, your child is watching. Time spent in front of the TV or computer, or playing handheld video games, should be no more than two hours a day. And stopping all movies and games at least half an hour before bedtime will help your child fall asleep and stay asleep all night.Watching TV at bedtime, especially in the bedroom, is one of the biggest disruptors of children's sleep, because it's hard for the brain to switch instantly from stimulation to relaxation.
2. Act out safety basics-
At this age kids are spending more time away from their parents. "Big kids should memorize their phone number and address, and they should know that if they get lost they should go to a police officer or someone else in uniform and ask for help," says pediatrician Alanna Levine. "They should also know not to talk to a stranger, even if the person offers them candy or asks them to help look for a lost puppy. It helps them learn these rules if you play through the different scenarios with them."
3. Don't ditch the booster too soon-
Many parents rush their children out of a car booster seat too early. The booster's safety advantage lasts longer than most parents think. Many people think it's based on height, weight, and age, but there's a four-point readiness test online. Most kids are ready to graduate from a booster sometime between ages 8 to 12, which may be even later than what your state's law suggests as a minimum.
4. Make sure your kid has some free time-
There's a middle ground between pushing your kids too hard and having no expectations. Pediatricians say many of their patients lean toward the former, with back-to-back sports, music lessons, and other activities. Unstructured play is important for children. If every moment of their lives is spent in a class or activity directed by an adult, they are always following guidelines set by someone else. They don't have the chance to develop self-direction and creativity.
The hyperscheduled lifestyle has another downside – it isn't conducive to sitting down to healthy meals prepared at home. "If you have your child in so many activities that he's eating fast food in the van, that's misplaced priorities," says Nancy Krebs, a pediatrician and nutrition specialist.
5. Take five minutes a day to really connect-
Sit down for five minutes a day and give your child your undivided attention – talk about what he wants to talk about. Right after school is usually not the best time – kids are too wiped out. But later, after dinner and homework are done, ask a few specific and nonjudgmental questions to generate conversation: Did you learn anything cool today? Who did you play with at recess? "Children grow up very fast." It's a habit of connection you'll be glad to have when your child hits the preteen years.
1. Keep TVs and computers out of the bedroom-
Placing all screens in the house in a common area helps you keep an eye on what, and how much, your child is watching. Time spent in front of the TV or computer, or playing handheld video games, should be no more than two hours a day. And stopping all movies and games at least half an hour before bedtime will help your child fall asleep and stay asleep all night.Watching TV at bedtime, especially in the bedroom, is one of the biggest disruptors of children's sleep, because it's hard for the brain to switch instantly from stimulation to relaxation.2. Act out safety basics-
At this age kids are spending more time away from their parents. "Big kids should memorize their phone number and address, and they should know that if they get lost they should go to a police officer or someone else in uniform and ask for help," says pediatrician Alanna Levine. "They should also know not to talk to a stranger, even if the person offers them candy or asks them to help look for a lost puppy. It helps them learn these rules if you play through the different scenarios with them."
3. Don't ditch the booster too soon-
Many parents rush their children out of a car booster seat too early. The booster's safety advantage lasts longer than most parents think. Many people think it's based on height, weight, and age, but there's a four-point readiness test online. Most kids are ready to graduate from a booster sometime between ages 8 to 12, which may be even later than what your state's law suggests as a minimum.
4. Make sure your kid has some free time-
There's a middle ground between pushing your kids too hard and having no expectations. Pediatricians say many of their patients lean toward the former, with back-to-back sports, music lessons, and other activities. Unstructured play is important for children. If every moment of their lives is spent in a class or activity directed by an adult, they are always following guidelines set by someone else. They don't have the chance to develop self-direction and creativity.
The hyperscheduled lifestyle has another downside – it isn't conducive to sitting down to healthy meals prepared at home. "If you have your child in so many activities that he's eating fast food in the van, that's misplaced priorities," says Nancy Krebs, a pediatrician and nutrition specialist.
5. Take five minutes a day to really connect-
Sit down for five minutes a day and give your child your undivided attention – talk about what he wants to talk about. Right after school is usually not the best time – kids are too wiped out. But later, after dinner and homework are done, ask a few specific and nonjudgmental questions to generate conversation: Did you learn anything cool today? Who did you play with at recess? "Children grow up very fast." It's a habit of connection you'll be glad to have when your child hits the preteen years.
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