Samaritan Healthcare | The Samaritan | Winter 2018

Help your child deal with bullying Whether they’re still young enough for the swing set or old enough for social media, kids need love and support to help them stand up to bullying. If you think your child is being bullied at school or online, here’s how to help: Recognize it. While bullying has many forms, it generally involves being picked on over and over again. Examples of this aggressive, unwanted behavior can include taunting, teas- ing or shoving; purposefully leaving a child out of friendship circles; or say- ing things that embarrass a child. Teach your child to seek help. Children need to know they can ask an adult, such as a teacher or play- ground aide, for help. It may help to remind your child that bullying is never OK—and he or she is not at fault. Tell the school. If the bullying is occurring at school or on the bus, make sure the staff knows so that they can help. Practice what to do and say. Teach your child what to do when someone is bullying him or her. Here are some ways experts say kids might respond: ●  ● Look the bully in the eye and calmly walk away. ●  ● Say something like “I don’t like what you’re doing” or “Please do not talk to me like that.” If the bullying is occurring on- line—through social media sites, for example—or through text messages, tell your child not to respond and to block the person who is doing the bullying. Also, report the bullying to the service provider. If the threats are violent or sexually implicit, report the bully to law enforcement. Help your child pursue a pas- sion. Is your son or daughter into sports or music? Or academic groups or social clubs? When children are involved in school or community ac- tivities, they gain positive experiences and are less likely to be bullied. Need more tips? Check out stopbullying.gov , a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Give the right dose. You might think giving a bigger dose than the recom- mended one will make a medicine work faster or better. But giving too much medicine can be dangerous. Use a special dosing device. Pick one specifically designed to help you measure and give the right dose of liq- uid medicine, such as an oral syringe. An ordinary kitchen spoon will not hold the right amount. Store safely. Always read all medicine storage instructions and follow them. For exam- ple, you might need to keep some antibiotics in the refrigerator. And be sure to store any medi- cines you or your baby may take out of your child’s reach. Babies ex- plore with their mouths, and they may start to crawl as early as 5 to 6 months old. Take care when breastfeeding . Some medicines can pass through breast milk and may not be safe for your baby. So if you’re nursing, check with your baby’s doctor before you take any medicine— including prescriptions, over-the-counter medi- cines and supplements. Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Pediatrics; U.S. Food and Drug Administration TRICS JUST FOR KIDS Keep your kiddo healthy and schedule an appointment with our pediatric care team! Call 793-9787 . Winter 2018 5