Basically toddlers are biting for oral gratification or out of jealousy. Look for biting that occurs when one child gets in the others space, biting that occurs near a meal time, biting that occurs when one child has played with a toy that belongs to the biter. Once you have an idea of what sets off the biting, then be ready. As soon as the child starts to bite---not actually bites---say "No bite". "Kiss, Kiss, No Bite". If the child actually bites, say---"Uh-Oh", looks like a little bedroom time." (as opposed to timeout). Say---"Feel free to come out when you can be nice and not bite." The child may come out in three minutes or 10 minutes---whatever it takes to get under control---you are teaching the child to get control by themselves and that if they bite, they will not be able to play with Mom, Dad, and brother. This may happen 10 times the first day, just a few times the second day, and by the third or fourth day the biting will be over. (This really does work, but only if it is used over and over again during a short period of time.) You may actually find the child going to his bedroom to chill when he recognizes the urge to bite.
The vinegar thing has worked for some kids----just not quite as logical as being separated if you can't play nicely.
The biting back may work, but also teaches kids that you can hit, or inflict pain when someone hits or bites you. But, if it works, it works. I just can't recommend it.
Most important is to try one technique for several days consistently. If you feel after a week that something isn't working at all, then it is time to re-evaluate.
Good luck, let me know how things work out. There is a ton of stuff on the internet,
but I must say that of all the topics that I read about, I didn't agree or feel comfortable with what most of the sources were siting as far as reasons. Some kids never bite, and others just seem to feel a compulsion to bite and it is our task to help them learn how to control that urge.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Kids and Breakfast
Breakfast for Kids Can Be Healthy and Fast
Breakfast is the most important meal for kids. Get tips for making quick, healthy morning meals.
By Diana Rodriguez
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
Want to know a simple way to help your children do better in school? Feed them healthy meals, especially in the morning.
Kids and Breakfast: Food for Thought
"Children need breakfast everyday for a variety of reasons," says Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. "Actively growing children need food at regular intervals to fuel their bodies and brains. Skipping breakfast gives as much as a 10- to 12-hour time frame with no food, and the potential for compromised school performance and irritability."
In addition, "for children who eat breakfast, there is better regulation of body weight," says Anding. Other benefits:
Eating breakfast increases the chances of an overall healthier diet.
Kids who start the day with a healthy meal are more likely to play sports and be more physically active.
Eating breakfast improves a child's ability to concentrate and perform in school.
Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids
Avoid giving children sweet foods for breakfast, like doughnuts or cereals high in sugar, because after the sugar high wears off, they are likely to get tired. "Healthy options include whole grain, low-sugar cereal with low-fat milk and fresh fruit, or a yogurt berry parfait with granola," says Anding. Or, you might offer your child a whole-grain English muffin with peanut butter or jelly and a glass of low-fat milk.
Other healthy meals for kids:
Scrambled eggs, toast with a little bit of butter, turkey bacon or sausage, and a side of fresh fruit.
Whole-grain bagel and cream cheese with a side of strawberries.
Low-fat cheese toast with a side of cantaloupe and blueberries.
Get creative, adds Anding, who recommends offering a breakfast burrito with scrambled egg and grated low-fat cheese and fresh fruit.
"If time is a factor, make breakfast portable," she continues. "Try sandwiches, like peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese leftover from dinner. Dry cereal in a sandwich baggie and a 100 percent real-juice juice box can make breakfast stress-free."
Planning breakfast the night before can also save you time. "This will allow you to plan ahead and know how much time you need in the morning," says Arlene Kaufman, a busy working mother and director of Temple Trager Preschool in Louisville, Ky. "That way everyone isn't saying: 'I don't know what I want,' or asking for something you don't have."
Healthy meals for kids don't have to be hard or time-consuming — or even homemade. There are plenty of prepared healthy breakfast foods that can go in the microwave. Check the freezer section at your local grocery store for pre-made meals like whole-wheat bagels and cream cheese, pancakes, waffles, and frozen turkey sausage. Yogurt and fruit, along with a whole-wheat bagel, is also a quick and easy breakfast for kids.
And, if you’re in a hurry like most families in the morning, Kaufman says, "grab a banana and Nutrigrain bar to eat in the car — it's still healthy, even though it's on the go!"
Breakfast is the most important meal for kids. Get tips for making quick, healthy morning meals.
By Diana Rodriguez
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
Want to know a simple way to help your children do better in school? Feed them healthy meals, especially in the morning.
Kids and Breakfast: Food for Thought
"Children need breakfast everyday for a variety of reasons," says Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. "Actively growing children need food at regular intervals to fuel their bodies and brains. Skipping breakfast gives as much as a 10- to 12-hour time frame with no food, and the potential for compromised school performance and irritability."
In addition, "for children who eat breakfast, there is better regulation of body weight," says Anding. Other benefits:
Eating breakfast increases the chances of an overall healthier diet.
Kids who start the day with a healthy meal are more likely to play sports and be more physically active.
Eating breakfast improves a child's ability to concentrate and perform in school.
Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids
Avoid giving children sweet foods for breakfast, like doughnuts or cereals high in sugar, because after the sugar high wears off, they are likely to get tired. "Healthy options include whole grain, low-sugar cereal with low-fat milk and fresh fruit, or a yogurt berry parfait with granola," says Anding. Or, you might offer your child a whole-grain English muffin with peanut butter or jelly and a glass of low-fat milk.
Other healthy meals for kids:
Scrambled eggs, toast with a little bit of butter, turkey bacon or sausage, and a side of fresh fruit.
Whole-grain bagel and cream cheese with a side of strawberries.
Low-fat cheese toast with a side of cantaloupe and blueberries.
Get creative, adds Anding, who recommends offering a breakfast burrito with scrambled egg and grated low-fat cheese and fresh fruit.
"If time is a factor, make breakfast portable," she continues. "Try sandwiches, like peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese leftover from dinner. Dry cereal in a sandwich baggie and a 100 percent real-juice juice box can make breakfast stress-free."
Planning breakfast the night before can also save you time. "This will allow you to plan ahead and know how much time you need in the morning," says Arlene Kaufman, a busy working mother and director of Temple Trager Preschool in Louisville, Ky. "That way everyone isn't saying: 'I don't know what I want,' or asking for something you don't have."
Healthy meals for kids don't have to be hard or time-consuming — or even homemade. There are plenty of prepared healthy breakfast foods that can go in the microwave. Check the freezer section at your local grocery store for pre-made meals like whole-wheat bagels and cream cheese, pancakes, waffles, and frozen turkey sausage. Yogurt and fruit, along with a whole-wheat bagel, is also a quick and easy breakfast for kids.
And, if you’re in a hurry like most families in the morning, Kaufman says, "grab a banana and Nutrigrain bar to eat in the car — it's still healthy, even though it's on the go!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
