• Decrease your stress as we enter the holiday season. Sick parents have a difficult time caring for sick children! Someone needs to stay healthy!
• Handwashing…handwashing….handwashing! Good preventive measures such as handwashing for parents and children helps prevent the spread of viruses particularly to children under the age of 12 months. How long do you handwash? A good rule of thumb…sing Happy Birthday to yourself or your child…that should be long enough!
• Cold and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Antibiotics DO NOT work for viruses.
• How long will cold and flu symptoms last? Fever and sore throats caused by
viruses generally improve with 4 days. Cough and nasal discharge may last
2 weeks or more!

So what do experts advise? Should preschoolers use computers? The answer should be the same as to the question, “Should preschoolers watch television?”. Apply the same rules to computers as you would to TV or movie viewing.

Use the computer with your preschooler. Research has shown

that young children learn best when interacting with their caregiver. Try some computer games but be there, do it with them, and talk with them about it. It’s not a learning module where they sit down and do it themselves.

Limit screen time. Computer time shouldn’t be a substitute for parent time; don’t use it as a babysitting tool. Choose age-appropriate software.

Think your preschooler is smarter because they can use the computer? Think again. Experts say that children may learn concepts on the computer, but it’s not really “intelligence” until it’s used in a functional way by applying it to real-life experiences. Remember a computer is used as a media presenter..don’t fool yourself into thinking your child is learning valuable life skills. Number concepts can be learned from simply sorting laundry!

Fine motor coordination and eye-hand coordination skills can be enhanced using a computer. But remember…a simple toy shape sorter requires the child to grasp (fine motor), determine which hole to drop it in (problem solve and test), and then dump them all back out and start over.

Experts agree there are positives to computers. The key, however, is to compare what your child is learning on computers to what they master with other toys or through pretend play. There’s lots of fun to be had on computers as long as you, THE PARENT, are part of it.

The temperature was only in the low 60s in early June when a New Jersey mother left her 13 month old son in the car while visiting a friend. Her child was in his car seat for more than two hours with the windows rolled up. Though she periodically came out to check him, the third time was too late. She found him unresponsive and he later died.

Experts say there is no safe time alone inside a car for a child, even with the windows “cracked”. Permanent brain damage can or death can occur in a short time, even when outdoor temperatures are relatively mild. Children's developing respiratory system makes them more vulnerable to heat exhaustion, which occurs when heat stress causes depletion of fluids. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. If a child who is dehydrated can't sweat enough to cool his body, internal temperature may rise to a dangerous level and cause heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke can include lethargy and loss of consciousness; babies can appear to be sleeping when they are actually in distress.

A recent study at San Francisco State University showed that even on a 73-degree day, a dark sedan reached 100 degrees after 15 minutes and 110 degrees at 30 minutes, while a white mini-van took 35 minutes to reach 100 degrees.

Parents and caregivers should follow these precautions:

•  Never leave a child unattended in or around a car. Be sure relatives and caregivers follow the same precautions.

•  Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in the driveway or garage. Kids have climbed into cars to hide or explore, and parents don't always know to check their vehicles.

•  Always ensure that all child passengers have left the car after it has been parked.

•  Keep car keys and remote openers out of reach of children.

•  If a child is missing, check vehicles and trunks right away.

•  For parents concerned they might forget they are carrying a child in the car seat behind them, leave a stuffed animal in the seat. Then remove the toy and place it in the front seat every time a child is riding in the car. It can serve as a reminder that “precious cargo” is being carried.

Reprinted AAP News, June 2003

RECALLED CAR SAFETY SEATS

Parents can find out if a car safety seat has been recalled by calling the manufacturer or the Auto Safety Hot Line at (888) 237-4236 or visiting the National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration's Website at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm

If the seat has been recalled, be sure to follow instructions to fix it or get the necessary parts. Parents also may get a registration card to receive future recall notices by calling the hotline.