Archive: Behavior

Advice for Smooth Sailing at the Grocery Store

We’ve all been there. You’re strolling down the produce isle and you can sense a meltdown coming from your kiddo. You try to hurry, but you’re only halfway down your grocery list. Do you abandon cart and run for the car? Or do you put on a smile and pretend that your kid isn’t screaming at the top of his lungs? MomTrusted has some advice for dealing with public meltdowns and how to avoid them in the first place. Think of it as your guide to smooth sailing at the grocery store:

Avoid meltdowns by avoiding boredom

One of the classic reasons behind a tantrum is just plain boredom. Grocery shopping can be boring for little ones so here are a few ways to make the chore as much fun as possible:

-Have your little one help you find what you’re looking for by hosting a scavenger hunt.

-Kids love the scales at the grocery store. Plus, they’re great learning tools! Ask them to help you weigh the fruits and veggies.

-Help teach counting by writing the objects on your list nice and big and crossing them off as you go. Then, ask your child how many items you have left to grab.

-When you’re ready to checkout, ask your little one to help you sort your items as you put them on the conveyer belt. You can organize by size, shape or color.

How to handle grocery store meltdowns

If it’s too late and your child is already crying and screaming loud enough for the whole store to hear, don’t panic. Here are a few ways to handle a public, grocery store tantrum:

-Stay calm. Reacting emotionally will only trigger strong emotions from your child.

-Do not cave. If he or she is crying because they want a piece of candy, do not give them the candy! You’ll only be reinforcing poor behavior and creating more work for yourself down the road.

-If it’s really disruptive and not ending, step outside or take your little one to the restroom until they calm down.

-Ignore looks or negative words from strangers. It happens to the best of us.

-Apologize. A screaming, crying child can be embarrassing because we all know how disruptive they are so apologize to fellow customers. While they may not love the meltdown, they’ll certainly appreciate you acknowledging it.

Sources:

-“Great Games for the Grocery Store.” Disney Family

-“I’m embarrassed by my child’s public tantrums. What can I do?” Baby Center

-“How to handle public tantrums.” Circle of Moms

-Photo courtesy of digitalart/freedigitalphotos.net

Your Toddler and TV: Why it’s Unhealthy

Children who increased the number of hours a week they spent watching TV between the ages of 2 and 4 may risk weight problems later on in life, a new study shows. After surveying the TV habits of more than 1,300 children, the Canadian study found that children whose weekly TV intake increased over the two-year time period had a higher-than-average waist circumference by age 10, and may have a greater chance of becoming overweight as adults.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children older than 2 not watch more than two hours of TV per day. The study found watching 18 hours of TV a week at 4.5 years of age would result in an extra 7.6 millimeters of waistline by age 10. Watching more than the recommended amount of TV may set up these youngsters for weight problems in high school and into adulthood.

Remaining sedentary throughout the day and eating nutrient-rich food is primarily to blame for the study’s results. The average amount of time spent in front of the TV was 8.8 hours per week at the start of the study (age 2). This increased to 14.8 hours per week by the end of the study two years later. Although XL toddler Halloween costumes may seem cute now, it may actually be an indication of a problem your child will battle later in life.

Changes You Can Make

If you’re a parent with a baby or a toddler, there are certain things you can do to limit their time spent in front of the TV and nip this potential health problem in the bud. First, permit your child to watch no more than two hours of TV per day. This includes movies. Encourage them go outside and be active; sign them up for peewee sports teams or just give them something to do in the great outdoors. Yes, it’s OK to make them do it – you are the parent, after all. Just like watching TV, playing sports and being outside enjoying Mother Nature are also habit-forming. An active lifestyle allows kids less time to be sedentary.

Remember to limit what they eat while watching TV, or eliminate this entirely. Give them nutritional supplements from companies such as Fortune-Hi Tech Marketing to help ensure they are getting the correct amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Eating a box of cookies while watching TV is a fast track to cardiovascular problems later in life, as well as put them at risk for diabetes and other complications.

Make TV Time Count

If your toddler is going to watch TV for an extended period of time, make sure it’s educational, like “Sesame Street” or “Dora the Explorer” – at least they’ll be working out their minds, if not moving their bodies.

Serious Health Risks

Beyond the health risks associated with a child being overweight and possibly diabetic, there are other negative effects of watching so much TV. The toddler years are an important developmental phase and habits children learn during this time are often formed for the rest of their lives. Excessive TV may also lead to social problems, as TV is no substitute for real-world interaction with children their own age.

Setting limits on the amount of TV your child can watch is only part of the battle. Making healthy choices like using FHTM products and getting your children outside will also help your child want to be healthier and more active.

 
Lenny Houston A nutritionist and weight trainer, Lenny has also devoted much of his time to creating healthy and delicious recipes for people with food restrictions and allergies. He is currently working on a cookbook for the vegan, gluten free and diabetic.