Space Coast Parent - January 2018

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Science Fun at Home MICHELLE BERRY After teaching for 14 years, I still enjoy finding fun, creative ways to inspire my students and help them develop a love for learning. Parents can easily encourage their children and continue to foster the learning at home. If you are looking for fun and easy ways to help your child develop scientific thinking skills, the best way to do this is by inspiring their natural curiosity through hands on experiences. Pay attention to what interests your child and start there. Real world and hands on experiences are the best approach when teaching children to think scientifically. The best thing you can do is continuing to learn yourself. Kids benefit so much from curious parents. Here are some very practical ways to incorporate science into your daily life: Top VPK Provider Tools Keep some basic tools available for you child. Some examples include magnifying glasses, binoculars, telescope, microscope, graduated cylinder, beaker, petri dishes, tweezers, safety glasses, plastic gloves, snap circuits, measuring stick/tape, timers, scales, balance, thermometer, rain gauge, anemometer, wind vane, magnets, wheels, gears, pulleys, ramps, flashlight, stones, minerals, empty bird nests, barometer, kaleidoscope, prisms, and plastic mirrors. Explore Explore nature with you child. Hiking, bike rides, canoeing, and camping are fun ways to explore. Bring along a field guide to identify animals and plants. Instead of making it a School of Early Learning Adding new classes for 1 to 2 year olds. Call Now! *There is a difference Come see* *Monitored classrooms *Individualized attention *Proven *Expert & Degreed techniques/curriculum teachers *Music and sign *Animal therapy-dogs Language and more! Celebrating 11 years of unwavering dedication to Brevard County’s kids!!! lesson, focus on the process and experience. Visit Visit the zoo, aquarium, museum, national park or historical site and take advantage of the materials they offer for education. Collect Collect items from nature like shells, feathers, rocks/minerals, or seeds. Explore how the items in their collections are alike or different and group them according to common characteristics. See if they have any questions about their collections that they would like to explore further. Question Ask your child questions about what they are observing in nature and encourage them to ask questions. Rather than giving your child the answers, let them discover for themselves as you guide them with your questions. An example of this could sound like “What do you notice about these plants?” “What happens when you look at them from above, far away, or very, very close?” “What happens when the wind blows them?” and “What do you see now?” “Where have you seen similar plants?” Journal Have you child keep a science journal. This is where they can record observations, draw sketches, ask questions, make predictions, record data, and make graphs. Garden Start a family garden. A butterfly garden or a vegetable garden are amazing ways to teach children about plants as well as the butterfly life cycle (metamorphosis) without actually having to teach a lesson. They can observe firsthand the life cycle of the butterfly, the life cycle of a plant, and pollination. There is no greater joy than to see a child’s amazement when a vegetable begins to form on a plant or the butterfly is emerging from a chrysalis. Michelle Berry is a Science Coach at Endeavour Elementary in Cocoa. FT-0000586322 mindworksschool.com • 321-609-9007 5830 South US1, Ste 104, Viera, FL (just south of Viera Blvd.) Lic# C18BR0202 Michelle Berry, science coach at Endeavour Elementary in Cocoa, instructs students. PHOTO 10 | Space Coast Parent JANUARY 2018
Staying Healthy During Flu Season DR. JAN BOROWSKI We may not get the frigid cold weather our friends and family up north get, but our winter season can still bring lots of icky germs. This is prime time flu and cold season. Dr. Jan Borowski, with Pediatrics of Brevard, gave some tips on staying healthy this winter. Why Is my preschool child often sick? What can I do about seasonal illnesses caused by the spreading of germs and viruses? Children attending daycare and school are often sick more, during certain times of the year. Most prone to fingers in their mouths, coughing in their hands, wiping/blowing their nose, touching surfaces such as door handles, books, desks and toys which lead to spreading germs everywhere. Most viruses and bacteria live on these types of surfaces for prolonged periods of time - other children touch those infected surfaces and infect themselves. Though important to note, it’s normal for children to have at least 8-11 upper respiratory infections and/or colds per year. Typical symptoms of a cold and upper respiratory infection: · Sore throat · Runny nose, post-nasal drip · Nasal congestion · Cough · Headache · Sneezing · Low grade fever My pediatrician will not normally give my child antibiotics, why? Super bugs occur when antibiotics kill not only the targeted bacteria (causing the illness), but also the ‘good bacteria’ (normal flora). When normal flora is compromised, bacteria which may have been in the body in small quantity, and balanced by normal flora are given the opportunity to grow. Often, this bacteria becomes resistant to commonly used antibiotics, hence the name super bugs. It’s important to understand the majority of respiratory illnesses are viral. Viruses such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and croup do not respond to antibiotics. Also, the side effects associated with antibiotics can cause diarrhea, rash, allergic reactions and the development of resistance to antibiotics. What can I do for coughing and runny nose? Over the counter (OTC) cough and cold syrups are not recommended because they are not found to be clinically effective. There is also an increased risk of toxicity with (OTC) cough products. Remember to always push fluids to maintain hydration of your child. For congestion, use saline spray and nasal suctioning. For sinus pressure, use warm compresses over their forehead. Acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen as needed for fever, pain, discomfort (at least 6 months of age). What about my child’s vomiting & diarrhea (acute gastroenteritis)? The vast majority of stomach “bugs” are viral so antibiotics are rarely indicated. Always maintain hydration in your child. Give them pedialyte or an oral rehydration solution, clear liquids, (slow slips) but not water alone. Probiotics may reduce diarrhea symptoms; anti-nausea medication may help reduce symptoms of vomiting. Ondansetron may be prescribed by your provider, but do not use anti-diarrheal medication. When would antibiotics be prescribed for my child? Normally with ear infections; though kids can often ‘clear’ ear infections on their own. Studies suggest if children are greater than 6 months old, with no fever or ear pain, to presume the illness is viral with no antibiotics to be prescribed. A strep throat diagnosis would warrant antibiotics; however, that specific diagnosis cannot be confirmed without a positive rapid strep or positive culture test. Most sore throats are not strep. Additional diagnosis requiring antibiotics would be bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and certain bacterial diarrheas. Though certain bacterial diarrheas can be caused by antibiotic use; symptoms would normally include fever, and blood in stool. When to seek care for my child? Always seek care for your child if they are having difficulty breathing; altered mental status or lethargic. Be cognitive of their risk for dehydration caused by profuse diarrhea, decreased urine output, cannot keep liquids down, and/or vomiting for several days. Seek care when there is fever in your young infant of less than two months old. Fever of more than 100.4 for five days, or when fever goes away for a few days then reoccurs. Also, coughing and a runny nose for more than ten days, seek clinical care. How to boost your child’s immune system Breastfeed your infant, antibodies spread from your milk to your baby. It’s important to fully vaccinate your child on time, including annual flu shots. Pregnant women should also receive recommended vaccines; family Specializing in Engagement, Maternity, Newborn, &Family Photography members who are around young babies should also attain their annual flu shot and TdAP. Teach children to cough and sneeze into their elbow instead of hand. Also, it’s important to make sure children finish any prescribed antibiotic courses. Solutions to decrease the spread of germs and viruses Teaching children good hand hygiene is one of the most important solutions to decrease the spread of germs and viruses. Also, ensure your daycare center is using that same good hand hygiene teaching and technique. Have open dialogue with the child’s school to learn sick policies for students/teachers and staff. Find out if children are required to leave school when ill, to prevent their classmates from becoming ill as well. Keep sick friends/family away from young infants. 407-575-7118 599 Sherwood Ave Ste 210 •Satellite Beach, FL 32937 WWW.JENNYPURANENPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Serving all of Brevard County! JANUARY 2018 Space Coast Parent | 11
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Space Coast Parent - January 2018

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