Winter Edition - January 2021 |
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Taking Care of a Child's Social, Emotional and Mental Health
During the Covid-19 Pandemic
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid-19 can affect children and young people both directly and indirectly. Even if they don't get sick from Covid-19, the social, emotional and mental health challenges facing them during this tough time may have lasting impacts. Some of these challenges include:
- Changes in their routines (e.g., having to physically distance from family, friends, worship and community)
- Breaks in continuity of learning (e.g., virtual learning environments, technology access and connectivity issues)
- Breaks in continuity of health care (e.g., missed well-child and immunization visits, limited access to mental, speech and occupational health services)
- Missed significant life events (e.g., grief of missing celebrations, vacation plans and/or milestone life events)
- Lost security and safety (e.g., housing and food insecurity, increased exposure to violence and online harms, threat of physical illness and uncertainty for the future)
To help support parents and caregivers, the CDC developed the "Covid-19 Parent Resource Kit: Ensuring Children and Young People's Social, Emotional and Mental Well-Being". This kit is available by age group and provides information on what parents and caregivers can do to help their child, along with a variety of age-specific resources. Click on an age group below to access more information:
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Well-Child Visits and Immunizations Are Essential to Keep Kids Healthy
Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to keep your child's well-child visits and immunizations up-to-date for their continued health and growth. The CDC offers parents the following advice:
Prepare for your child's health care visit:
- Call your child’s health care provider to ask about any upcoming appointments or to ask when your child’s vaccinations are due.
- Ask your child’s health care provider what steps they are taking to separate healthy patients from those who may be sick. Some health care providers may choose to delay in-person visits, which will be based on the situation in your community and your child’s individual care plan.
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Notify your child’s health care provider before your visit if you or your child have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Bring your child for well-child visits and vaccine visits:
Your child’s health care provider will check your child’s growth and development at well-child visits. You can also track your child’s developmental milestones with the CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app. Vaccines are an important part of keeping your child healthy by protecting them against vaccine-preventable diseases. There are effective vaccines for illnesses such as measles, flu (influenza), whooping cough (pertussis), and other diseases that can spread from person to person.
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Florida KidCare is reminding parents about the importance of connecting with their child’s pediatrician to keep up with regular health care visits.
We understand your reservations about in-person appointments during this time. Call your pediatrician and ask about their safety measures, don’t cancel.
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Give Your Child a Smile
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If your child needs dental health care, you are not alone. On February 5, 2021, the American Dental Association (ADA) will host its 18th year of the Give Kids a Smile® (GKAS) program!
GKAS holds events all year to serve uninsured children with free dental care services. Thousands of dentists and dental team members volunteer each year to provide screenings, treatment, and health education through GKAS. Children will also receive kits to keep their teeth healthy at home, with items like:
- A Colgate toothbrush
- Colgate toothpaste
- Health education cards
If you know a family with an uninsured child, please call 844-490-4527 to find out if they qualify for a GKAS event near you. The ADA will provide updates on how COVID-19 may affect the GKAS program. They have a plan in place with six-feet-apart stickers and ear-loop masks to keep the events as safe as possible.
Children also can receive dental services through dental school clinics with low-cost options for uninsured families.
The Florida Dental Association can help you or a family you know with free and low-cost resources when you visit floridadental.org or call 850-681-3629. You can help set your child up for a healthy smile for life.
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The Importance of Flossing
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Each tooth has five surfaces, two of which cannot be cleaned by regular brushing alone. That’s when dental floss comes to the rescue!
Brushing removes sticky bacteria (plaque) from the tooth surfaces you can see, but brushing alone cannot reach between the teeth. Plaque left on any tooth surface can lead to tooth decay as well as sore, swollen, bleeding, or infected gums. Gum problems can happen fast – sometimes in a few days – and if left untreated, can lead to more serious gum disease or tooth loss.
Dental floss is an inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay and to maintain a clean and healthy mouth. There are many types of floss to choose from – waxed, unwaxed, flavored, or dental tape. Select any brand or type that works best for you and your child. Flossing can be done anytime and anywhere. The best outcomes will occur when flossing is done every day. Here are some tips parents can use to help their child floss correctly:
- Use a 12-18-inch length of your preferred type of floss.
- Wrap most of the floss around your middle finger, but not too tightly!
- Hold the floss firmly between your thumbs and index fingers and gently work the floss between two teeth.
- Work the floss back and forth against one tooth down to the gumline, then work the floss back up. Repeat the same action on the tooth next to the one just cleaned.
- Repeat between each tooth until all teeth have been cleaned.
Combine flossing with regular tooth brushing for the best overall health benefits.
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Breakfast:
The Most Important Meal of the Day
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You have likely heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is true for children of all ages. Studies show that kids who eat breakfast every day are more likely to:
- Maintain a healthy weight,
- Have more energy, and;
- Have greater concentration.
These can also lead to better school performance. Like any meal, a healthy breakfast should include a protein, dairy, fruit and/or veggie, and a whole grain.
We know that mornings can get hectic and it may be hard to fit in a healthy breakfast. If your child’s school offers a breakfast program, consider using it. It can be a simple way for busy families to fit breakfast into their child’s day. Make sure to review the menu with your child and discuss what healthy options your child might eat.
Prefer breakfast at home? Some easy combinations for a preparing a complete meal include:
- A slice of whole grain toast with nut butter
- A hard-boiled egg
- Yogurt and a piece of fruit
- A whole grain cereal with milk
- Fruit and a cheese stick
Many of these options can be made as a grab and go meal. For example, instead of cereal with milk, try baking a healthy oatmeal bar. Whether it’s a sit-down breakfast or one on the run, don’t let your child skip breakfast. Make sure they are fueled for the day ahead.
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Safety First:
Tips to Prevent Poisoning in the Home
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Children are curious and love to explore and touch things around them. Sometimes, these things may end up in their mouths and could be poisonous substances or choking hazards. Studies have shown that exposures to poison occur mostly in the home, and children between the ages of one and four years old are most at risk. Childproofing your home is essential if you have little ones. Being prepared will help prevent these unfortunate incidents.
It's also a good idea to have the poison control number 1-800-222-1222 and your child’s doctor’s number saved on your phone and placed somewhere accessible -- like on your refrigerator.
You can also follow the S-A-F-E-T-Y tips listed below:
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Store medicines in a cabinet using a safety latch. Kids can climb up to countertops so locking the cabinet is important.
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Always keep medicines in their original containers. This is important for identification should an accidental ingestion occur.
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Family and friends’ homes where your child may spend considerable time should be childproof too.
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Every cleaning product should be stored securely and out of reach of children.
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Teenagers who manage their own medications should follow family rules on safety and storing of medications. Supervise them as is necessary.
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Yard plants and some house plants may be poisonous, be careful what you plant around and inside your home, and know the names of your plants.
Poisoning can be prevented, let's do our part to keep homes safe!
Source: Dr Ikpeazu MD MBA, Aetna Better Health of Florida
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Protect Your Child's Smile!
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February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). The American Dental Association (ADA) created this special month to help everyone be more aware of the benefits of good oral health for children. The NCDHM slogan for this year is “Water, Nature’s Drink!”. Good dental habits should include choosing water over other drinks. Here are a few ways in which water is good for your child’s teeth.
Contains No Added Sugars: Water does not have added sugars like other drinks such as sodas and sports drinks. Sugars stick to your child’s teeth and help bacteria weaken the outer surface. These weak spots turn into cavities!
Rinses Away Food and Bacteria: Drinking water after eating helps to clean your child’s mouth. It washes away bits of food and bacteria before they can cause trouble. It also helps to keep your child’s breath fresh.
Makes Teeth Strong: Water from the tap or a drinking fountain is a good source of fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to make the outside of teeth stronger. Strong teeth are better able to fight off bacteria and decay! Your child can also get fluoride from toothpaste and mouthwash.
The ADA has created free and fun posters to help your child remember to choose water. You can view and print them from the ADA website. You can also learn more from the ADA about water and oral health on the MouthHealthy website.
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Contact Florida KidCare
1-888-540-KIDS (5437)
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (ET)
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