7 / 8
PUT A STOP
TO BULLYING
BULLYING WEIGHS ON
kids’ minds because it’s so
prevalent in their world. Hitting, punching, teasing,
name-calling or making intimidating gestures can hap-
pen anywhere—even in cyberspace where bullies send
insulting photos or text messages.
THREE STEPS FOR PARENTS
Bullying is ugly, wrong
and serious; yet its young victims are often too embar-
rassed or afraid to speak up.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer
these suggestions for parents whose child might be a
target:
Focus on your child.
Be supportive, gather
information and listen carefully. Don’t blame
your child or recommend fighting back or
ignoring the bully. Reassure your child
that being bullied is not his or her fault.
Take steps to end the bullying.
If the
bullying happens at school, contact your
child’s teacher or principal and provide
A HEALTHY
START TO
SCHOOL
BUYING SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Signing permis-
sion slips. Working out transportation details.
And meeting the new teachers.
Those are all important things to do when it’s
back-to-school time for your child. But what’s
even more important is making sure that your
child is in good health so that he or she is ready
for the school year ahead.
No matter how old your child is, the beginning of the
school year is a good time to schedule an annual checkup,
reports the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Many students are required to have a physical exam
before taking part in school sports. And that’s good. But
you should still schedule a full checkup for your child
whether or not he or she is involved in sports.
Along with a physical exam, the back-to-school
checkup lets your doctor assess your child’s overall health
and development.
It’s also a good time to check with the doctor to
make sure your child is up-to-date on all important
immunizations.
PACK A LUNCH
YOUR KIDS
WILL ENJOY
IT’S THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
of
school lunches: that elusive meal that
is nutritious enough to satisfy a par-
ent and delicious enough to appeal to
a picky child.
It can be a difficult quest. But with a
little planning, a touch of teamwork and
a sprinkle of creativity, you can pack that
perfect lunch.
Kick off your quest with these tips
from the Academy of Nutrition and Di-
etetics and other experts:
Brainstorm together.
Your child is
the best authority on what he or she likes
and will eat—so ask. Together, write up a
list of lunch ideas, being sure to come up
with options for each category (fruits, veg-
gies, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy).
Ask for help.
Sit down with your child over the
weekend and plan lunches for the week. Go shop-
ping together. And then enlist your child’s help in
putting the lunches together. Pride in helping to
make the food makes it more likely your child will
want to eat it.
Make it fun.
Cut sandwiches and cheese slices
into fun shapes. Create a theme lunch with food, napkin
and utensils all in a matching color. Include a new and
exotic (but kid-friendly) food like jicama or star fruit.
MORE IDEAS
Lunch doesn’t have to mean a sandwich.
Try packing a yogurt dip with fresh fruit. Or try some
hummus, salsa or homemade bean dip with veggies and
pita strips.
Another option: Use a wooden skewer to turn bread,
meat, cheese and veggies into a delicious kebab. Or create
do-it-yourself cracker stackers with whole-grain crackers,
low-sodium cheese and low-fat lunchmeat.
Looking for tips, ideas
and fun tracking tools? Visit
www.choosemyplate.gov.
Parkview Pediatrics
is
here to see your children off to a
healthy start. Call 766-9450 to schedule
your annual well-child exam—we’re
always accepting new patients.
written, factual information. Offer to help. It’s for the sake
of your child and others too.
Help your child become more resilient.
Teach safety
strategies; encourage new friendships; and support inter-
ests your child may have, such as music, athletics or art.
Parents can find more information about bullying by
visiting the HHS’s bullying prevention website at
www.stopbullying.gov
.
F A L L 2 0 1 5
7
T H E
S A M A R I T A N