Health

Dental health is vital for general health and appearance in childhood and all through life. Preventive dentistry is so good these days that our kids can look forward to keeping those pearly whites bright and shiny all their lives. And we now know so much about keeping fear and pain out of dental care that kids should really have no reason to worry when it’s time for one of those twice-a-year visits. Here are a few things you can do to be sure your child gets the right care and develops an attitude that will ensure that his smile stays bright for a lifetime. 

Pick a kid-friendly dentist.There are pediatric dentists who have additional training and interest in kids’ dental issues. If you don’t have one in your community, look for a dentist whose waiting room, staff attitude, and comfort with children tell you this will be a good experience. Your health care provider will have suggestions.

 

Visit ahead of time. Bring a child in before the time of the appointment to get acquainted with the place. 

 

Examine your own attitude about the dentist. Many parents have some memories of bad dental experiences, and they can give unspoken negative messages about the dental chair. The parent who can be the most positive about the visit should be the one to go with the child.

 

Respect those baby teeth. Even though your child will lose his first teeth, proper care for them, including fillings, coatings, and extraction of teeth that have died, are all part of ensuring that the teeth underneath and the jaw grow well and stay healthy. Be ready for suggestions about care that weren’t options when you were a kid. Ask about fluoride rinses.

 

Here are a few things you can do at home between visits to keep things sparkly:

• Teach kids to brush twice a day. Good times are after breakfast and before bed. Supervise at least the evening brushing for kids under 7; supervise both for kids under 4.

 

• Use a soft-bristle brush. Hard ones scrape the gums and can foster bacteria. Change the brush every six months, or sooner if it wears out.

 

• Put a timer in the bathroom. Set it for two to three minutes. That’s what it takes to get things really clean.

 

• Check on fluoride. Contact your health care provider about using fluoride supplements. The kind and amount will depend upon the fluoride content in your local water. Don’t assume you don’t need it if your child drinks bottled water with fluoride, as it may not be enough.

 

• Avoid sticky foods. Some kinds of gummy candy or fruit rolls are mostly sugar and stick all day to the chewing surface of the teeth.

 

Source: http://www.pampers.com 

By Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H

How to Discipline Your Kids

A few weeks ago I wrote an article called The Common Discipline Mistakes Moms Make (and Regret). When the article was shared on the Circle of Moms Facebook page, there was some interesting feedback that I could so easily relate to as one of the mistake-making moms I was writing about.

One mom wanted to hear about the things parents are doing right. Another mom suggested it would be helpful to provide some answers about how to fix the discipline mistakes we are making.

Both comments really hit home. After all, we help our kids feel good about themselves by telling them what they are doing well, and if they are making mistakes, we give them strategies to help fix them. Don’t moms deserve the same?

With that in mind, Circle of Moms members chime in to help us all learn to fix some of these common discipline mistakes.

Keep reading.

The Fix For Disciplining For Normal Kid Behavior

Although Kelly R. complained that her 9-year-old son’s strange sounds and rambunctious behavior were irritating, she also came to the realization that “he acts like . . . well . . . a 9-year-old.”

Moms say three factors in fixing this discipline mistake are knowing kids don’t come with an automatic understanding of what behaviors are appropriate in which situations, they don’t always have the maturity to control themselves, and you need to use age-appropriate discipline.

Grandmother Kat points out that it’s important to give kids verbal cues letting them know when their behavior isn’t appropriate and to provide them with more socially acceptable alternatives. Mom Angie K. says as her kids got older, she could eventually use a “code word” in public to let them know their behavior was inappropriate.

The Fix For Yelling and Screaming

Unlike mom Bobbi P., who says yelling seems natural to her, I’m not a yeller, but I understand the impulse because I’d really like to yell more than I do. In over a decade-and-a-half of parenting, I’ve learned that getting very quiet is sometimes more effective than amping up the volume.

It doesn’t come easily, though. I frequently take Circle of Moms member Dora W.’s advice to “take a deep breath right before you are about to yell at them.” If that doesn’t work, I take Alison L.’s advice to take a step away to regroup. And, if I end up yelling, well, it’s not the end of the world. I just try to apologize for not speaking calmly, and we can all move on.

The Fix For Inconsistency and Not Following Through

Sometimes it seems so much easier to give your child “just one more chance” or to lift a consequence when they’re following the rules again, but as mom Carla A. explains, staying consistent in your actions lets your child know you are in charge and they are accountable for what they have (or haven’t) done.

That’s not to say it’s easy to stick with it. Carla says it best: ”Almost all kids have to have the rules repeated, over and over, and over and over, and over and over until you are reciting them in your sleep. They are going to try and test you, to see if you really mean what you say. They NEED to know you are going to be the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

The Fix For Thinking Discipline and Punishment Are Interchangeable

One of the things that seems to trip moms up when it comes to making this distinction is thinking that if you look at discipline and punishment as separate things, then you can’t provide consequences for your child’s actions.

Circle of Moms member Tricia L. points out that discipline is “teaching and re-teaching the appropriate behaviors in a wide variety of nuanced situations,” while Carrie B. explains that punishment often is a penalty or restriction that aims to deter but isn’t directly related to the behavior at hand.

Once you keep in mind your goal is to redirect, teach, and connect consequences to specific behaviors, it becomes clearer. If your child is throwing a toy, taking the toy away isn’t a punishment; it’s discipline teaching the direct consequences of their actions. Grounding a teenager from going out one night for breaking curfew the night before is also discipline.

Source: Thinkstock

Church Avenue Street Fair

The annual Church Avenue Street Fair is coming on Sun. April 21 from noon to 6:00 p.m. Jam packed with great things to buy, eat, ride, the street air runs from E. 10th Street to Argyle Road. Stop by Honeydew Drop Play House for face painting ($5) and to play in our indoor Jungle gym.

for information on upcoming events please go to http://www.honeydewdrop.com

Earth Day

Monday, April 22, is Earth Day. It’s a day that over one billion people across the globe dedicate to protecting our earth. With the effects of climate change apparent in our weather patterns, and recognizable in our animal and plant life, parents all over know that the time to take action (and teach our children to do the same) is right now. With people in Boston and West, Texas still recovering from the aftermath of the tragedies in their hometowns, there is no better time to do something positive for mankind and help one another.

Venues all over our city are participating in Earth Day related actions, many focusing on child-centered activities and events. Below are some highlights.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the communities of Boston and West, Texas.

—NY Parenting

http://earthdayny.org/

Honeydew Drop Spring Party Saturday April 13th

Big Brooklyn Playdate!

Big Brooklyn Playdate!

Stop by the Big Brooklyn Playdate to

enjoy fun games and activities that delight

young children and encourage early literacy.

Happy New Year

MESSAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR:  from Fabiola Santos-Gaerlan, Director of Honeydew
Happy New Year Everyone,
As we move on to 2013,we can’t help but look back at 2012 to count our blessings and
feel gratitude for what we have.  It has been a difficult year for the world, between natural
disasters and acts of violence. It is easy to feel hopeless and scared.  But if we remember
how people stepped forward and helped those in need, and how the negativity of the violence
did not spread unnecessarily.  We know that we are very lucky and that the answer to most
questions and fears is: community. To stand together, help each other and grow compassion
for those not as lucky as us.  As the director of an Early Childhood Establishment, I am
particularly touched by what has gone on, because I know that the children will need more
protection than ever from outside negative forces,  and they will also need to be protected inside
themselves. We have to help them keep their innocence longer and to help grow the compassion
that is so naturally in them.  We do this by making sure they are not exposed to negative and violent
shows, movies, songs and games.  And we also do this by intentionally making them think about others
in their community.  At Honeydew, we always emphasize teamwork, generosity, and kindness.
This season, we collected toys and coats for those in need.  We baked cookies for the Sandy victims in
Rockaways and the children created cards to go with them.  All these small gestures are big for the
children as they learn about the importance of doing things for others and remembering to share what they have.
Let’s try to remember in the New Year the lessons we learned in 2012 and pass it on to the children around us.

TOY AND COAT DRIVE

As we do every year for the community, we will be collecting toys (for ages 10-14) – to participate in Councilman Mathieu Eugene’s Toy Drive.  They told us that they have lots of leftover younger toys – and the tweens usually end up with nothing – so they are requesting these “older” toys.  Toys such as sports materials (balls, mits, etc), board games,  legos,

instruments, etc.  Their office works with disadvantaged communities from all over Brooklyn.

We will also be collecting Gently used coats for New York Cares. The Drive is taking place this

SATURDAY, DEC. 15  11-12:30

HONEYDEW PLAYHOUSE  1113 Church Avenue

Everyone who donates – gets to play in our indoor playground for half hour!!  Tire them out before nap time!

Parenting Chat in our Indoor Playground

Join our Parenting Chat in our Indoor Playground
at Honeydew Drop Playhouse

Speaker:  Kristian Orozco: 
As founder of The Boyhood Project, Kristian supports parents of boys to become more
confident with raising sons mindfully. He also speaks on the importance of honoring
and protecting the emotional life of boys through kind and firm parenting so they can
thrive on the road to manhood.

Craft Activity with your children while you attend our “Chat”: 
Make a kaleidoscope from easy materials!

**Bonus:  Play in our Indoor Playground

SATURDAY DEC. 1, 2012

Time: 11A-1P

HONEYDEW DROP PLAYHOUSE
1113 CHURCH AVENUE 
BETWEEN STRATFORD AND WESTMINSTER
718 941 2177

Suggested Admission: $5 for craft materials

Get Your Picture Taken with Santa

Get your picture taken with  Santa at the Honeydew drop Craft Time (Making Tree Ornaments)

 

Address: 1113 Church ave, Brooklyn NY / 718-941-2177 / http://www.honeydewdrop.com

Date: Saturday, December 8th 2012 

Time: 11:30-1:30