As a parent, the one thing that you want the most is to protect your children and ensure that they are the healthiest that they can possibly be. You take them to the optician to get their eyes checked and you take them to the dentist to get their teeth checked. In fact, their first visit should occur before they turn 7! Your children deserve to be as healthy as possible, and if you don't ensure that your children are being seen by the right professionals, it could impact their future! 

As part of ensuring that your children maintain their health, you should keep an eye out for the obvious signs that they will require braces. You can have regular appointments with Zurcher Orthodontics if they do, but it takes seeing the signs first and foremost. So with this in mind here are some of the obvious signs that your children may need braces. Let’s take a closer look!

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1. Their new teeth are crowding. It’s normal for there to be a degree of overcrowding in your child’s mouth as their baby teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow. Sometimes, their teeth come through faster than their jaws grow, and when this happens it can pay to keep an eye on it. As more teeth come through, the rest will move along to accommodate them. Keep an eye on your teeth as they change; as too much overcrowding can prevent any new teeth finding a spot to grow.

2. They’re breathing from their mouths more and more. When teeth are crowding in the mouth, children tend to let their jaws hang down and they breathe through their mouths instead of their noses. This helps them to breathe but it can cause some issues in their jaws and that can make them narrower than they're supposed to be.

3. Misaligning of the jaw. Does your child have a severe over or underbite? This misaligned jaw is going to cause them some discomfort, and it can lead to a lisp forming, too. If you notice this, it’s important that they have an appointment with their dentist as soon as possible!

4. Your child was a thumb sucker. Thumb sucking is often seen as harmless for babies, but long term it can cause some issues. The teeth will warp as they grow, with them sticking out as if there is still a thumb there to suck on. If it’s something they’ve always done in childhood, it’s worth getting the opinion of the dentist to know whether they will have any long term issues.

5. They lost their baby teeth very late. Sometimes, losing baby teeth late can show that your children will be dealing with adult teeth being out of place. If your child still has baby teeth at age 13, there is also a chance that they won;t have any adult teeth beneath the baby teeth. This will cause some issues later on, and you should discuss this with their dentist to know whether they will need an x ray performed.

 As a parent, there are going to be many frustrations in life that you’re going to encounter, but making sure that your teenager wants to bathe may not have been something you considered. Unfortunately, some teenagers can be exceptionally lazy about their hygiene, and teaching them how to keep up with it isn't always easy. When you have taught them how to be hygienic and stay clean from a very young age, it can be frustrating to then have to nag at your teenager to get in the shower.

It should be a comfort to know, though, that you’re not alone if this is happening in your family right now. Teenagers commonly get a little lazier with their hygiene from middle school onwards, but that doesn't mean that they will stay that way. You have the time to instill healthy habits in your teenagers, from seeing Scott Chandler DMD to improve oral hygiene to remembering to shower after school every day. If you think that your teenager needs to be nudged a little more to wash themselves every day, sit together and communicate your concerns. Talk about the risks of bullying and the issues and infections that can occur when they don't keep their bodies clean. You also have to consider WHY they’re refusing to be clean given that they know why it’s important. So, with this in mind, here’s how you can talk your teenager into maintaining good personal hygiene. 

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• Put together a basket of personal care items. Whether you have a son or a daughter or a non-binary individual in your home, everyone needs personal care items. So, once puberty hits, put together a basket with a roll on antiperspirant, mild shower soaps and shampoos and an electric toothbrush with paste and floss. You can also put together a smaller pack for face washing, including cleanser, toner, exfoliator and a good moisturizer. If you have a teenager who is dealing with acne, go to the doctor and speak to them about specialist creams. 

• Have a chat together. A basic discussion on hygiene and the risks that come with funky smelling underpants is a must. Don't shame your teenager for having a less than appealing smell; that won’t help. Instead, education and talking will make a difference. Focus on the basics why each task - from flossing to shampooing - is important. While You're talking, check in on their mental health and make sure that they are feeling good. Depression is a clear link to a lack of hygiene and it’s just not what you want for your kids.

• Speak to a counselor. If your child’s hygiene is starting to impact their interactions with others, or it’s leading to bullying, it can make them less inclined to wash each day. They’ll think “what’s the point?” and really, they don't need to. Get a counselor involved and together you can unpick why they refuse to bathe.

Hygiene isn't a filthy word. Teach your teenagers the importance of keeping up with it and you’ll help!

 The word "stress" has become a pervasive part of our vocabulary, with many people using it to describe their emotions on any given day. However, your stress levels can be influenced by factors such as the amount of work you have been assigned, how well you sleep at night, or even how much time you dedicate to personal care and relaxation. In this blog post, you’ll find some easy ways to cultivate positivity in your life while living in an environment that may seem stressful.

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Focus more on the good and less on the bad

Some people seem to be able to take a bad situation and turn it into something good. They may not always have the perfect response or know how to solve their problems, but they are willing and ready to try new ideas and explore different possibilities. These types of individuals often find themselves more successful than those who allow negativity to get them down.

Though some stress is inevitable, you can choose where your attention goes in that moment - whether on the problem at hand or on solutions for overcoming it. Thinking positively has been proven as an effective way of combating negative emotions like anger or depression - so why not give it a go? When you focus your energy on what's going well instead of what isn't meeting expectations, you'll feel better.

Prioritize self-care

Self-care is essential for anyone, but it can be even more crucial to those living with stress or chronic illness. Sleep becomes complicated when you feel stressed and anxious because your body's natural self-repair mechanism doesn't work as well under stressful conditions. And without a night of adequate restful sleep, the likelihood of getting sick dramatically increases due to lowered immunity and compromised health.

Maintain healthy habits

Many people with a chronic illness or who are living under significant stress have low immune systems. This is because their bodies can't fight off sickness when they're struggling to recover from the day's demands and needs. You can support healthy habits in your life by making sure that your body gets enough rest, hydration (try carrying around water bottles), and nourishment through whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and protein sources. Adequate sleep and adequate nutrition - these two things go hand in hand for any individual looking to maintain good health while also managing stress levels! You can even utilize some cbd hemp oil for sale to alleviate your stress even further and to help you relax when it’s time to wind down.

Take personal time

Another thing to consider is how much time you spend caring for your own needs. For example, do you make sure to eat healthy, exercise, and find ways to relax? Or do you stay up late working on that project or go into work early in the morning when there's no one around? If so, it may be a sign that some of this stress could be self-created. Just because you can't control everything doesn't mean you should neglect your personal health and wellness; these are vital components of living life with balance. 

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When you become a homeowner there are a lot of things to think about, as well as many parts of the house to maintain and clean. When maintaining your house over time it is easy to forget some simple steps, and this is why today we want to talk about one part of the home in particular that can quickly become neglected. The windows. 

Your windows are the only way light will get into the house from outside - and as a result it is crucial for you to maintain them and ensure they stay clean over time. Today we want to talk about some of the different ways that you can maintain and clean your windows to keep them sparkling and clear. 

Buy a window cleaning pole 

One of the best tools you can buy for yourself for cleaning is a pole that can be used for cleaning your windows. A window cleaning pole will make your life so much easier when reaching up to your bedrooms and bathrooms and it will ensure that the exteriors of your windows never become too dirty and mouldy. You could also hire a window cleaner - but if you don’t want to pay for this service a window cleaning pole is a great idea. 

Use the ‘S’ technique 

When cleaning your windows and using a squeegee to get rid of the water, it is all too easy to fall into the stripe trap. Most of us look at our windows and will squeegee them in a downward motion, creating small streaks on the windows once dried. To avoid these annoying stresses it is important for you to consider the ‘S’ technique. Instead of moving in one direction down the length of the window, move your squeegee in an ‘S’ motion and this will capture any spills that may otherwise cause streaks. This is a much easier way to clean your windows and you’ll have sparkling surfaces in no time. 

Know when to replace them 

It is important to know when to consider window replacement near me. Over time, the sealant of the windows will get damaged, and your windows themselves will lose their integrity. Take the time to inspect your windows and decide whether it is time for a whole new replacement. 

Fill in cracks in sealant 

Speaking of the sealant - it is important throughout the years of maintaining your windows that you are always ready to fill in cracks that appear in the sealant. Cracks can happen for a number of reasons such as contact with harsh cleaning products, wear and tear, and harsh temperature changes. Check the windows now and again ajd resell them when needed. 

Wipe condensation away 

Condensation is the enemy of your windows, because when condensation starts to build so does mould and damp - and this can do a lot of damage to your windows as well as to your chest. When windows start to fill with condensation in winter make sure to wipe them every morning and prevent the condensation from sitting in place. This will keep the windows dry and protected. 

 As a parent you face many worries and woes regarding your children. From the moment you find out you are expecting you are going through the motions and what ifs. 

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Development

You may be worried about your child’s development. Are they growing at the right rate, are they too heavy, not heavy enough? These are all very valid questions, from birth you can take your baby along to regular health checkups either with a doctor or community health nurse. At these checks your baby will be weighed, their head circumference will be measured and they will also have their length and height checked. You may notice length and height are both here, this is because babies cannot stand up so they lay down to get their ‘height’. 

All measurements will be recorded in your child’s personal health record books. Within these books there are charts and curves, the numbers will be plotted and this will show where on the development scale your child is. If the doctor or nurse has any concerns about your child these will be raised with you and a plan will be set up to help monitor any changes or improvements. 

Along with the visits you attend there are milestone checks that babies and young children will have throughout their childhood. These usually happen around the time your child is born, at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 8 months, 18 months, 3 years, and 5 years. These checks ensure any childhood problems are discovered and sorted quickly. Issues such as hearing problems, whether your child can roll, sit up, crawl, and walk normally, if their speech and language is developing as it should. Doctors will usually perform little tests to see for themselves that your child is developing as they should be. 

If they are not your child may be referred to a kids pediatrician who can help your child with anything they need extra help with.  

Health 

Your child's health can be a big cause for concern when they are growing up. There are quite a lot of common health problems that can affect your children. Your child and your family can be affected by the grossest of things, worms for example. It is very common for children to be affected by worms as they don’t quite understand the importance of washing hands and wiping themselves properly when they go for a number 2. Worms have to be treated to get rid of it and it is beneficial for the whole family to receive treatment so it doesn’t get passed back and forth. 

Colds are probably the most common form of illness in children. Your baby doesn’t have a fully functioning immune system until around the age of two so they will catch anything and everything that goes around. If your child attends some form of childcare setting then they can indeed come home with a cold every week, and some children do. A good way to build up their immune system is to ensure they are eating lots of fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting a healthy amount of vitamins and nutrients. 

If you are worried about anything that doesn’t seem quite right or your child just doesn’t seem like themselves make sure you take a trip to your doctor's surgery. 

Schools

Finally, schooling can be something you think about and plan for from the moment you find out you're expecting a precious bundle. Some places have exceptionally high waiting lists so it's important to find the right setting and get your child’s name down on the list so when they are the right age they can start straight away. You may even move to a nicer area with better quality schooling. 

It is important for your child to socialize before they start school, children who haven’t attended a childcare setting previously may struggle to understand social concepts, such as friendships and how to treat other children. Another problem you could be faced with is separation anxiety if your child isn’t used to being away from you, this can be a nightmare when you are trying to do the school drop-off. 

Issues can also arise once your child is at school. Problems with bullying are very common in all year groups: elementary school, middle school, and high school. Problems with bullying need to be addressed as soon as your child raises them. Nobody wants that for their child and your child will want to know you are doing everything in your power to support them and stop the bullying. Go into the school if you have to, speak to the children's parents if you know who they are and if that doesn’t solve anything then go higher up. 

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 As a parent, it’s important to make sure that you take the right steps to protect your child’s health. This is more than just taking them to the doctors on regular trips. You need to focus on various individual aspects of their health too. For instance, you should look at their teeth. You might think that because they’re baby teeth are going to fall out, you don’t have to worry too much. But this isn’t the case. You need to ensure that their teeth and gums are healthy from the beginning to avoid issues further down the line. Here are a few steps to take.

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Get Them To The Dentist

First, you need to make sure that you are taking your child to see the dentist. A lot of children are scared of the dentist. Even some adults are terrified of sitting in a dentist’s chair because they associate it with pain and discomfort. The good news is that there are family friendly dentists and services like this are certainly worth exploring. They will take extra steps to ensure that your child is happy and comfortable when they come in for a visit. So, you won’t have to worry about problems with them having a tantrum when it’s time for their next visit. You should always check the reviews to ensure that you are selecting a dentist that understands how to work with kids. 

Be aware that your child might also need to see an orthodontist. This will be the case if they have overlapping teeth or a significant overbite. 

Develop Habits

Ideally, you should aim for a point where brushing a child’s teeth is just second nature for them. You need to think about how to get them into the right habit. There are a few ways that you can do this. First, make sure that you create a routine. Encourage them to brush their teeth at the same time each day for the same amount of time. If you start this early on then they will fall into a natural routine by the time they enter the teen years. 

Make Teeth Care Fun

Finally, you need to ensure that you take steps to guarantee that teeth care is fun for kids. There are lots of different ways to do this. For instance, you might want to think about getting them creatively designed toothbrushes. Kids tooth brushes are typically designed around popular brands such as Disney and Marvel. You can also get flavoured toothpaste. If you explore ideas like this, then you’ll have no problems making sure that your kids brush their teeth each night. You can even think about getting them an electric toothbrush to ensure that they are brushing their teeth for the right amount of time too. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you need to take to ensure that your child’s teeth remain healthy. It’s important that you don’t overlook this aspect of their health as you will often find that it causes serious problems later in life. If you don’t get the right habits in place now, they will struggle when they are older too. 

 How To Promote Your Child's Social Development

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According to the US National Center for Health Statistics, about 3.6 million babies were born last year. These children would have to be socialized effectively as part of their development. It is a big responsibility all parents must tackle to ensure that their children are well socialized. Please consider the following points if you wish to learn more about monitoring your child's social development.

Encourage Free Play

Parent-child play is crucial to any child's social development, as it enhances their self-esteem, vocabulary, and academic performance. However, encouraging your children to play on their own or with their peers freely is equally essential. Therefore, provide open-ended toys like blocks and dolls since they allow children to explore their creativity. You can also let your kids play with other kids in the front yard so they can socialize with their peers. However, if your child has problems with running, walking up and down the stairs, and other motor skills that prevent them from playing, it might be indicative of something more serious. This problem might be due to a birth injury issue, making it imperative to contact the Birth Injury Justice Center for critical legal assistance.

Instill Positive Manners

Saying "thank you" and "please" and having excellent table manners can help your children gain the respect and admiration of teachers, parents, and their peers. Most importantly, it will help them be functional members of society. However, teaching manners can sometimes be challenging since children will generally abandon their manners to get their way. Nevertheless, you can instill good manners in your children by being a great role model. As such, you must say "Yes, please," "No, thank you" in regular interaction with your child. Also, use your manners when interacting with others, praise your child when they are polite, and offer reminders when they forget to use their manners.Even teaching them the importance of supporting non-profits, such as Child Foundation OFAC, can be a part of this.

Encourage Cooperation

Cooperation is one of the pillars of a functional society, so put in your best efforts to instill teamwork in your child. Your child will have to cooperate with other kids in the classroom and on the playground. You may see cooperative signs in your children at about age three and a half since children around this age can collaborate with their peers on a common goal. You can encourage this virtue in your children by offering opportunities for the entire family to work together. This way, your children can understand the importance of collaboration and their role in the process.

Teach Children To Share

A willingness to share a snack or toy with a friend can help your child make and keep friends. Therefore, it is essential to teach them how to share as early as possible. A study published in the Psychological Science Journal says that children as young as two years old may demonstrate a desire to share with others, but only if their resources are plentiful. However, children aged three to six are particularly selfish when sharing sources. Although you cannot force your child to share particular toys or items with certain children, it is essential to point out a sharing opportunity anytime you see one. In addition, praise your child for sharing and highlight how it makes others feel to reinforce this positive behavior in your child.

 It's party time! Whether you're hosting a party for your child, or just looking to party with friends, it can be challenging to come up with snack and appetizer ideas that are both healthy and delicious. Here are some buffet-style party snacks you can prepare and try this buffalo shrimp recipe as well. These are ideas for those who want something a little bit more filling than chips and dip.

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Buffet Style

Indulge in these finger foods without feeling guilty about it:

• Nuts and fruit are mixed on a tray or bowl that can be passed around the party to give guests an easy snack option. What makes this particular buffet idea healthy is that nuts are full of protein and fiber while fruits provide vitamins and minerals which will keep you energized for hours after eating them.

• Grilled vegetables - zucchini, squash, eggplant, and capsicum alongside your favorite cuts of meat on skewers for easy eating while being served up by someone else in this instance.

• Tortilla chips with salsa - these are high in calories though so make sure you don't indulge too much.

• Quinoa salad - quinoa mixed with sweet corn tossed together with some red onion slices and avocado cubes. Tossed into a large bowl or platter to serve with appetizers such as buffalo shrimp from above. It'll be an excellent addition to any appetite platter.

• Fruity party mix - this appetizer is sure to be a hit at any party. You can pick up the ingredients from your local grocery store or make it yourself for an original DIY appetizer that will impress guests.

• Here's how you do it: take one cup of mixed dried fruit and pour in some apple cider vinegar, add a dash of cinnamon (you could also use ground ginger), and honey too. Stir together well then let the mixture sit overnight before serving tomorrow so all those flavors blend even better than they already did when you first made them by accident.

Buffalo Shrimp Recipe:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Put shrimp in front of the fridge for 15 minutes then pat dry with paper towels and place each one on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Sprinkle them lightly with salt and pepper before adding buffalo sauce over top (the buffalo sauce contains low-fat ingredients like yogurt instead of mayonnaise so this is one application your guests will love guilt-free!)

3. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and enjoy! These make a great alternative to fried shrimp that are laden with unnecessary calories.

Party Tip:

Punches are a great idea for your party. You can serve them in big bowls or try making some from this recipe just so you're sure they'll be healthy! You could pick up the ingredients at your local grocery store (fruit juice, club soda, and sugar) or make it yourself by mixing one cup of apple cider vinegar with three cups of fruit juice (any type will work). Add two cans of carbonated water to the mix as well - that should do the trick! It's an easy way to ensure everyone has something refreshing on hand when all those buffalo shrimp get eaten up too quickly!

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Your kids will spend a lot of time in front of screens every single day. In fact, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids aged 8-18 spend a staggering 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen for entertainment purposes. This includes TVs, computers, smartphones, tablets, and anything else. 

It's starting to become a huge problem as screen time can be bad for their health. Too much screen time can be bad for their eyes, but it also means they spend a lot of time sitting down doing nothing. So, their physical health suffers as well!

How do you, as a parent, keep your kids away from the screens they so desperately crave? Let's go through a few suggestions:

Ensure they get one hour of exercise a day

Encourage your child to spend at least one hour of every day doing some form of exercise. This doesn't mean they should be running laps around the local park or doing press-ups! Instead, it means doing physical activities that elevate their heart rate and get them moving. Walking to the shops with you for an hour would count, as would playing in the garden and kicking a soccer ball around. Even something simple like walking the dog can go towards this hour of exercise. 

Find alternative forms of entertainment

Kids these days are growing up thinking that screens are the only source of entertainment. It sounds cliche, but they don't know what they're missing out on. When we were kids, we didn't have access to this technology, so we were forced to find other forms of entertainment. Get your kids to put the screens away and provide them with different ways of having fun. Simple things, like puzzle books, are a great alternative. They can challenge your kid for hours, and you can see more here to learn about the different options. Painting or drawing or any other arts and crafts style activity will also be a different form of entertainment. In essence, you look for anything to occupy your child that doesn't include a screen, so they have other ways to enjoy themselves without craving screen time. 

Take screens away from your child's room

Don't put screens in your child's bedroom as this can just encourage them to watch TV or play on the computer for hours a day when you're no longer watching them. If you take all of the screens from their room, they won't be able to use them before going to bed. You can be safe in the knowledge that their screen time is over for the day, and they won't be using them in the morning when they wake up. Keep all the screens and gizmos in your room when you sleep, so they have to ask you before they can use them again. 

If you'd like more help on this, there's a handy infographic below from the CDC that includes these points and a few more:
Infographic By CDC

As a parent, you always want to do what's best for your kids. So, reducing their screen time should be a top priority as it can help their health and set them up for a much better future free from health problems.